SmartLynx contracts
Joined: Jun 2020
Posts: 131
Likes: 52
From: Europe
I think that even if you are very correct with SLX and give them the required 45 days of notice and pay up the 4000 euro penalty for leaving (for capt), I think that they still would get angry because you are leaving them and therefore not give you any references or documents.
I have had this experience with other airlines. One airline simply did not care to give me my papers and the other one did not want to give it to me just for revenge and to make my life difficult because I decided to leave them. How would you handle this kind of situation? Lawyer? report them to EASA?
I have had this experience with other airlines. One airline simply did not care to give me my papers and the other one did not want to give it to me just for revenge and to make my life difficult because I decided to leave them. How would you handle this kind of situation? Lawyer? report them to EASA?
Joined: Sep 2022
Posts: 5
Likes: 0
From: France
Easy to say « do not work there » when this is the only company giving you the opportunity to enter the pilot market and give you a contract… everybody knows that without some hours on a CS25 aircraft 95% of the airlines will not even bother answering to your application, even more if you have an atypic profile.
So yes SmartLynx has many bad points, but most of the people use it as an hour building airline and for that purpose thank god they exist and don’t ask 500h on Type to apply. Thanks to this, pilots can join the pilot market and be more credible to legacy airlines. The only problem is are they really going to sue you if you don’t pay their contractual penalty when you want to leave.
So yes SmartLynx has many bad points, but most of the people use it as an hour building airline and for that purpose thank god they exist and don’t ask 500h on Type to apply. Thanks to this, pilots can join the pilot market and be more credible to legacy airlines. The only problem is are they really going to sue you if you don’t pay their contractual penalty when you want to leave.
Joined: Jul 2018
Posts: 202
Likes: 69
From: on the edge.
Easy to say « do not work there » when this is the only company giving you the opportunity to enter the pilot market and give you a contract… everybody knows that without some hours on a CS25 aircraft 95% of the airlines will not even bother answering to your application, even more if you have an atypic profile.
So yes SmartLynx has many bad points, but most of the people use it as an hour building airline and for that purpose thank god they exist and don’t ask 500h on Type to apply. Thanks to this, pilots can join the pilot market and be more credible to legacy airlines. The only problem is are they really going to sue you if you don’t pay their contractual penalty when you want to leave.
So yes SmartLynx has many bad points, but most of the people use it as an hour building airline and for that purpose thank god they exist and don’t ask 500h on Type to apply. Thanks to this, pilots can join the pilot market and be more credible to legacy airlines. The only problem is are they really going to sue you if you don’t pay their contractual penalty when you want to leave.
Joined: Mar 2024
Posts: 26
Likes: 10
From: Turkey
Many left without paying, noone will sue you, at the worst they wont give you your reference letter, hours certificate or whatever you ask them, they will simply ghost you and that's it..they are just a bunch of bottom feeder scumbags that can only prosper in pockets of legislative grey areas where no real contracts, securities and T&Cs are applied.
You won't gain anything, but it's important to understand that you won't lose anything either. Simply having worked at Smartlynx is reason enough for brokers, HR, or assessment panels to scrutinize you and your performance closely.
Been there, done that, seen it all.
Joined: Oct 2018
Posts: 115
Likes: 11
From: NA
About this advice: this is the best way to get rejected: “my previous employer was run by crooks, so I just left… but I will behave completely differently here.” Unfortunately: you signed the contract, now you have to live with the consequences. Imagine there are 20 applicants for a job: most can provide references, but you are unable… Who is going to be hired.
Last edited by uberfly; 12th December 2024 at 05:24.
Joined: Jul 2017
Posts: 35
Likes: 8
From: Backdoor
Not that advance. They hired in the past a captain who is not actually a captain. They were not doing any SIM check until recently so god know who they hire. Their background check or so must be joke. They hire many pilots who left their previous companies for various reasons, disciplinary issues, CRM issues or court cases due to contractual disagreements. So this must shade a light. You can see a pilot in this company who change 7-8 company in 13-14 years. At the end bottom of the pyramid.
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 98
Likes: 11
From: UK
The company is still deciding whether to implement the new contract.
For now, the new contract has supposedly been presented merely as an "offer" that pilots can choose to sign—or not. Smartlynx will evaluate the situation and determine whether to allow pilots to continue working under the old terms or to make the new contract (or "offer") mandatory.
If the latter happens, it would result in contract termination initiated by the employer.
How cleverly worded and orchestrated this is (irony intended).
For now, the new contract has supposedly been presented merely as an "offer" that pilots can choose to sign—or not. Smartlynx will evaluate the situation and determine whether to allow pilots to continue working under the old terms or to make the new contract (or "offer") mandatory.
If the latter happens, it would result in contract termination initiated by the employer.
How cleverly worded and orchestrated this is (irony intended).
Joined: Mar 2024
Posts: 26
Likes: 10
From: Turkey
Smartlynx now orders all pilots to sign the new contract by 16 Dec. No comment on what will happen if this is not signed, other than they confirm they will refuse to pay bonus in the following year. As the company is now massively over-crewed they will use any means to get people to leave. 737 jobs are about, we have other options. I guess Arbus the same, but 15-20 Airbus with no work in 3 months time.
When summer comes, things will return to the usual state of affairs.
The company's mindset seems to mirror yours: planning only for the short term.
If you're looking for pilots for the summer season, you need to start recruiting in the winter—not in April, when it's already too late.
Joined: Mar 2024
Posts: 26
Likes: 10
From: Turkey
"Dear Pilots,
We understand your concerns regarding the recent contract changes and particularly limit for partially covered days (illness/ unfit/ fatigue/ special occasion leave). We want to explain the changes and reasoning behind them in more detail.
First, we must emphasize that safety has been and will remain our top priority and will never compromise that. Second – we want to make it clear that our aim is not to limit the option of reporting fatigue or unfit condition, but to work on the long-term goal – to create working conditions, where pilot fatigue is not common at all.
The changes in the contract are carefully made based on the data we have analyzed over the last two years as well as industry benchmarks.
As per the new contract, section of “Other coverage”:
The company will:
cover in total the first 10 days of illness/unfit/fatigue/special occasion leave at 50% of the set fees. (already more beneficial to pilots than in similar airlines in the industry)
cover severe illness cases that occur on operational base while performing duties on behalf of the Client (such as covid, monkey pox, hajj flu etc.) until travel to NIA is arranged.
work closely with pilots to ensure improved roster planning and communicate more effectively to ensure pilots proactively inform the company in case there is a risk of fatigue – in advance.
Our aim is not to reduce fatigue reporting, but to reduce the probability of fatigue as such.
The company will not:
Compromise the safety and change safety policies – safety first, always.
Limit the days you can report fatigue/ unfit/ illness.
Based on the number of fatigue/illness/unfit reports within the last two years, we are confident that the newly set limit will have minimal to no effect on most of the pilots, and moreover, we are committed to review each case individually.
As the company evolves, we also periodically reconsider the contracts and see how we can collectively improve, and we will continue to do so.
The new terms and conditions are the best we can offer you in the current market!"
Joined: Mar 2024
Posts: 26
Likes: 10
From: Turkey
Ukrainian pilots are currently flying with Maltese license validations while awaiting the completion of the necessary exams to obtain their EASA licenses. At present, they are the backbone of the company, willingly taking on tasks that others would never agree to.
Until they acquire their EASA licenses...
As for the contract situation, my opinion is that the company will gradually replace the non-compliant individuals (those who have not signed the new contract), one by one, as new pilots complete their line checks and sign the new, less favorable contract themselves.
Until they acquire their EASA licenses...
As for the contract situation, my opinion is that the company will gradually replace the non-compliant individuals (those who have not signed the new contract), one by one, as new pilots complete their line checks and sign the new, less favorable contract themselves.
Joined: Mar 2024
Posts: 26
Likes: 10
From: Turkey
I think it’s best for you to forget about SLX. Just as the A330 sector has been shut down, they are now phasing out the B737 as well.
The new management is incapable of securing work for the aircraft.
The A320 is surviving solely because of operations in India.
If that work were to end tomorrow, the entire company would collapse.
The new management is incapable of securing work for the aircraft.
The A320 is surviving solely because of operations in India.
If that work were to end tomorrow, the entire company would collapse.
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 338
Likes: 17
From: London
Lets hope it will happen soon.