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The Skytrans livery is set to disappear from our airspace as newly rebranded SmartLynx Australia plans to repaint all its aircraft in a neutral white.
Speaking exclusively to Australian Aviation, chief executive Gytis Gumuliauskas confirmed that all of Skytrans’ operations, including regular passenger transport, will be rebranded, and that there will be no new SmartLynx Australia livery on its aircraft, with white paint to be applied during regular maintenance.
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The change from Skytrans branding to all white-label planes will allow SmartLynx and its owner, Avia Solutions Group, to more easily use its existing RPT fleet for charter and wet leasing if required.
“It will be done gradually and, in general, to adhere to the philosophy of our group as a capacity provider – typically our aircraft are just a neutral white colour unless there is a potential customer with a longer contract, which is asking for some brand recognition, for example,” Gumuliauskas said.
“In our case, it’s typically neutral aircraft, because for a few months you can operate on behalf of one airline, then another for half a year.
“We are flexible here, and as much as possible, neutral in the market, because we are more of a solution provider, instead of a competitor to the local market players and others in the region.”
According to Gumuliauskas, the airline is not significantly concerned that white planes will reduce customer awareness of the brand.
“If you’re a good service provider, let them know you from a quality perspective, from a service perspective, which we want to be perfect in: reliability, hospitality on board, safety on board.”
“With this, we want to create our impression about the brand – not with the label, not with a sticker on an aircraft.”
SmartLynx Australia received CASA approval for its ACMI services earlier this year, with its second A319 having arrived in Australia in February after the first touched down in December.
The airline is looking to use its A319s to boost passenger capacity for airline clients during peak seasons, as well as allow other regional carriers to test new routes, and offer airlines a stopgap measure while their own aircraft are undergoing maintenance.
SmartLynx expects an initial batch of three A319s by the end of the year, ramping up to 13-15 within the next five years. It currently operates a fleet of turboprops, including Dash 8s and Cessna Grand Caravans, and will acquire more Dash 8s from QantasLink for Lord Howe Island services.
Ross Wischusen
says:If I had paid top dollar for a week in Lord Howe and get to to the airport to board an all white Dash 8 my initial thoughts will be ” this looks dodgy, what bl…. airline is this? “