Thai SmartLynx Airlines (Bangkok Suvarnabhumi) has received its operator's licence from the Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand (CAAT). The licence is a precursor to an air operator's certificate, which the Avia Solutions Group-owned start-up hopes to secure in early 2025.
When operational, Thai SmartLynx will be that country's only provider of ACMI capacity. It is targeting Thailand's seasonal peaks and local operators who often experience capacity shortfalls during these periods. The airline intends to launch using an A320-200.
"Thai SmartLynx offers airlines an alternative through aircraft leasing to ensure financial and operational flexibility during peak seasons," the airline's Martynas Grigas explained in a statement. "This approach allows airlines to expand their operations dynamically, without the heavy burden of ownership, and provides them with the agility to adapt to changing market conditions."
Thailand will become Avia Solutions Group's second Asia-based airline, with BBN Airlines Indonesia (7B, Jakarta Soekarno-Hatta) having launched in the second half of 2023. The group has also acquired Australia's Skytrans (QN, Cairns), which is in the process securing an AOC in the Southwest Pacific. Earlier this year, the group said it wanted to grow its portfolio to around twenty AOCs by the first quarter of 2025, including upcoming acquisitions, to cover emerging ACMI markets worldwide.
