PRAGUE – Air carrier Smartwings has added the eighth Boeing 737-8 MAX to its fleet. The new modern aircraft in Smartwings colors with the registration mark OK-SWH landed at Prague Airport this morning after completing a ten-hour direct flight from Seattle, USA. Another 5 new 737 MAX aircraft are to be delivered to Smartwings in the coming months. One new 737-8 MAX aircraft will join the fleet during the summer season in August, another four will be added in the first half of 2024.
The newest addition to the Smartwings fleet will embark on its first commercial passenger flight on Saturday, when it will fly from Prague to Heraklion, Greece.
Smartwings operates this type of aircraft in a 189-seat configuration. Smartwings added the first Boeing 737-8 MAX to its fleet in late January 2018.
Smartwings will operate a fleet of 53 aircraft in the summer season. Because of high demand and the expected busy 2023 summer season, Smartwings will strengthen its existing fleet of 43 aircraft with an additional 10 aircraft. These will be leased for the summer from airlines in other countries under so-called ACMI contracts.
Last year, during the busiest summer months, about 3 million passengers used Smartwings’ services in the three summer months alone (June-August). The company expects another 10% increase for the 2023 summer season.
Smartwings Group will operate flights not only from the Czech Republic but also from Poland, Slovakia and Hungary in the summer season, with its aircraft flying to a total of 148 destinations.
Smartwings Group, whose members include airline companies Smartwings, a.s.; Smartwings Poland, Sp. z.o.o.; Smartwings Slovakia, s.r.o.; and Smartwings Hungary, Kft, operates flights not only from the Czech Republic, but also from Poland, Slovakia, and Hungary. Besides scheduled and charter flights, Smartwings also provides a wide range of special flights for international corporations, and global humanitarian and sports organizations. Smartwings Group operates flights around the world and repeatedly undergoes IOSA certification (IATA Operational Safety Audit). Last year, the group flew over 33,000 flights and Smartwings aircraft landed at 213 airports around the world.