Smartwings

Czech Republic flagCzech Republic | Low-Cost
2.9
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3 reviewsFleet:50On order:
ICAO: TVSIATA: QSCallsign: SKYTRAVELFounded: 1997

Acceptable and not so, depending on you

Star icon3.0Captain - Current employee
09.02.2025
Cross markRecommended to other Pilots Cross markPositive business outlookCross markApproval of management

Pros

Vast experience all over the world, flying multiple continents/countries in a small period of time, which gives crucial experience globally, relatively new fleet of 737 Max/ A220

Cons

Terrible schedule, with no opportunities to plan something ahead, oppressive management, improvement in working conditions are hardly obtained, and quietly punished by worsening on another side. Flying wise, terrible acmi contracts in countries like Cameroon and northern India, which makes your life/work balance hard to manage since your half a year away from family/home.

Advice to management

Actively listen more to your employee, and try to work more for the people

Advice to future employees

Know very well what you get yourself into before coming here, know the roster pattern and how is it published, and what you will be required to attend to operational wise before accepting an offer.

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