Aussie regional airline Skytrans has officially rebranded as SmartLynx Australia, signalling a strategic shift under the ownership of global ACMI (aircraft, crew, maintenance and insurance) powerhouse Avia Solutions Group.
The change aligns the Australian airline with sister companies SmartLynx Airlines in Europe and Thai SmartLynx, bringing visual consistency and closer integration across the group.
SmartLynx Australia will continue its regular and charter services, but now with a sharper focus on ACMI operations – a core strategy for Avia Solutions Group’s expansion in the Asia-Pacific region.
The airline recently boosted its fleet with the addition of Airbus A319 and Dash 8-200 aircraft, bringing its total fleet to 13. The move positions it well to offer narrow-body jet and turboprop services to meet growing demand.
SmartLynx Australia CEO Gytis Gumuliauskas said the rebrand marks a new era for the airline, offering greater access to shared resources and expertise.
“The new brand marks a new stage for the business – one that bridges the quality transportation services Skytrans was known for locally and the new line of business – ACMI – that Avia Solutions Group has perfected,” he stated.
The move adds weight to Avia Solutions Group’s broader ambitions in the Asia-Pacific region – including addressing seasonality across hemispheres.
“Our global expansion strategy is built around geographic diversification,” Avia Solutions CEO Jonas Janukenas remarked.
“By establishing operations across different continents and time zones, we create a natural hedge against seasonal fluctuations that affect individual markets.
“SmartLynx Australia represents a key piece of this puzzle, offering us the opportunity to both optimise our fleet use and serve the growing demand in the Asia-Pacific region.”
Acquired in March 2024, Skytrans gave the group a foothold in Australia with a valuable Air Operator Certificate. The company now holds 12 Air Operator Certificates globally.
“Our fleet size fluctuates throughout the year based on seasonal demand and operational requirements,” Gumuliauskas said.
“However, we plan to expand our total fleet by the end of 2025 to provide greater operational flexibility and enhanced solutions for our clients.”
Last year, Skytrans entered into a codeshare agreement with Qantas for Lord Howe Island services. Read more about that here.
