Smartwings

Czech Republic flagCzech Republic | Low-Cost
2.9
Star iconStar iconStar iconStar iconStar icon
2 reviewsFleet:39On order:6
ICAO: TVSIATA: QSCallsign: SKYTRAVELFounded: 1997

Suitable for a career start

Star icon2.7First Officer - Former employee
01.01.2025
Cross markRecommended to other Pilots Cross markPositive business outlookCross markApproval of management

Pros

Variety of operations for different airlines thanks to the ACMI contracts

Cons

- Management of the company is totally disconnected from what is happening among its employees and does not really care - Planning is atrocious, not even able to plan properly 2 weeks in advance with a lot of changes in an already planned roster. Changes published less than 48 hours in advance don’t need a consent of the employee. Often roster is not published within time so you don’t have an overview at least a few weeks in advance. Over winter a lot of blank days which they fill out with numerous standbys in a row in the last possible moment. - Pay is low in comparison to the other European airlines

Advice to management

Care about your employees, get better with the communication and planning especially.

Advice to future employees

If you're willing to get by with the negatives, get the experience, built up your hours and leave.

Experience

Star icon3.0First Officer - Current employee
11.05.2024
CheckmarkRecommended to other Pilots Cross markPositive business outlookCross markApproval of management

Pros

Great experience, ACMI all over the world. Enthustiastic employees with whom is a pleasure to cooperate with.

Cons

Tiring rosters, no roster stability, constant changes, lot of fatigue. Management could pay more attention to employees requests and problems. Low salary in proportion to an actual duty time. Lot of pressure on employees, no flight cancelled during past years.

Advice to management

-

Advice to future employees

If you are looking for a great experience with great colleagues, who enjoy their job, this is the right place. You can easily fly a lot, but the salary is not great during first 2-3 years, after 3 years as a Senior first officer it is comparable with similar low-cost European airlines. If you have a family and looking for a roster stability, then it is good to gain a few hours and then leave for another company with a better roster and life style quality.

PILOT REVIEW RATING

5
4
3
2
1
Fleet
Star iconStar iconStar iconStar iconStar icon
3
Training
Star iconStar iconStar iconStar iconStar icon
4
Maintenance
Star iconStar iconStar iconStar iconStar icon
4
Upgrade opportunities
Star iconStar iconStar iconStar iconStar icon
4
Pay & benefits
Star iconStar iconStar iconStar iconStar icon
2
Management
Star iconStar iconStar iconStar iconStar icon
2
Workload & schedule
Star iconStar iconStar iconStar iconStar icon
1
Layovers & destinations
Star iconStar iconStar iconStar iconStar icon
4
Culture
Star iconStar iconStar iconStar iconStar icon
3