As we look back on 2025, Smart Aviation’s 20th year, we’re proud to reflect on a landmark twelve months that celebrated two decades of industry leadership, innovation and exceptional charter operations.
Founded in 2005 by Managing Director Mark Hawkins, a respected sports charter specialist with over 30 years’ experience in senior operational roles across the travel and aviation industry, Smart Aviation marked its twentieth year with major milestones, continued growth and a renewed commitment to delivering world-class charter solutions worldwide.
Highlights from the year include major sporting movements, record breaking pilgrimage operations, high profile VIP charters, industry recognition and key partnership milestones. From completing more than 30 aircraft movements for the Six Nations and flying over one million pilgrims to Lourdes, to supporting global Fashion Weeks, securing complex transatlantic VIP missions, and being named Best Air Charter at the PA Show Summer Supplier Awards, 2025 truly showcased Smart Aviation at its very best. With new partnerships, award wins, expanded teams and our glittering 20th anniversary celebration in London, this was a year defined by growth, innovation and exceptional charter delivery.
Read on for a month by month look at the moments that made our twentieth year one to remember:
January: Smart warmed up for the Guinness Six Nations Rugby Championship
January set the tone for a remarkable year as Smart Aviation, the leaders in global sports charters, once again played an integral role in the Guinness Six Nations Rugby Championship. The team completed the movement of more than 30 aircraft, transporting over 7,000 rugby fans across Europe to watch their teams battle it out. With flights operating in almost every round, including Scottish fans travelling to Paris, Irish fans to Rome, English fans to Paris and French fans to Dublin, Smart’s presence was felt throughout the tournament. A dedicated Smart representative was stationed at each departure and return airport to ensure every flight ran seamlessly.
February: MICE demand accelerated
February continued Smart’s momentum in the MICE sector, following strong corporate charter growth in 2024. The year accelerated quickly with a major movement for a Central European motor company, which returned to Smart’s unrivalled charter expertise for the third consecutive year. Smart arranged an aircraft large enough to fly 70 employees from Bratislava to Warsaw for the company’s annual conference, securing a Boeing 737-800 from trusted partner Air Explore, based in Bratislava. The team coordinated light refreshments on board the one-hour flight and also managed all onward logistics, booking a luxury coach to transport the entire group from the airport to the conference venue in comfort and style.
March: Fashion week took flight
March highlighted Smart Aviation’s long-standing role as the entertainment industry’s preferred private jet charter specialists, delivering seamless, personalised travel for high-profile clients throughout the global Fashion Week season. Marking 20 years as leaders in VIP and executive aircraft charters, Smart provided bespoke services across New York, London, Milan and Paris, from branded cabins and curated in-flight dining to luxury transfers and generous baggage solutions. The team supported a full spectrum of travellers, including sponsors, fashion houses, world-renowned designers, influencers, music clients and even a celebrated fashion journalist flying with her beloved dogs. With movements on aircraft including the Bombardier Challenger 350, Embraer Phenom 300 and Pilatus PC-12, Smart’s VIP team showcased flawless service across one of the busiest periods in the fashion calendar.
April: Smart flew superstar DJ to brand launch
April saw Smart’s VIP charter team take centre stage once again, flying an internationally acclaimed DJ and an entourage of five to New York for a high-profile brand deal launch party. The group travelled from Miami to The Big Apple on a Bombardier Challenger 300, the ultimate super-midsize business jet known for its impressive range, efficiency and one of the widest cabins in its class. With a full galley, washroom facilities and a spacious rear baggage hold, the aircraft offered the ideal set-up for the 2.5-hour journey from Miami-Opa Locka Executive Airport to Teterboro Airport, ensuring a seamless and stylish trip for all six passengers.
May: Smart dominated UEFA football finals
May marked another landmark moment for Smart Aviation as the global sports charter leaders once again dominated major football finals for the 20th consecutive year. Smart flew thousands of fans to the UEFA Europa League, Conference League and Champions League finals, operating everything from private jet flights for families, friends and incentive groups to large commercial aircraft for supporter groups in partnership with long-standing specialist sports tour operators. This year’s Europa League Final on 21 May saw Manchester United face Tottenham Hotspur in Bilbao; the Conference League Final on 28 May brought Real Betis Balompié and Chelsea FC together in Wroclaw; and the Champions League Final on 31 May returned to Munich, where Paris Saint-Germain and Inter Milan battled it out in front of more than 75,000 fans. With stadium capacities high and demand for travel even higher, Smart once again played a pivotal role in getting supporters to Europe’s biggest football stages.
June: Smart Aviation wins Best Air Charter Award at PA Show Summer Supplier Awards
June delivered a proud moment for Crawley based Smart Aviation as the company, celebrating its 20th year, won the Best Air Charter Award at the PA Show Summer Supplier Awards 2025. Smart triumphed over five other finalists including Sandbanks Jets, Chapman Freeborn, Flexjet, North Point Aviation and VistaJet to claim the coveted title. The ceremony took place at the prestigious HAC Ground in the heart of London, where Matt Feldon, Head of Charter, and James Gregory, Head of VIP Charter, collected the award on behalf of the entire Smart team.
June: Smart celebrated 20 years and one million passengers to Lourdes
June marked a major milestone as Smart Aviation celebrated 20 years of flying pilgrims to Lourdes and reached the remarkable achievement of transporting more than one million passengers to this universal place of meeting, prayer and celebration of life. In 2025, Smart continued its six month charter programme, running from April to October, flying over 40,000 passengers on more than 100 round trip flights, including new departure airports such as Bournemouth and London. Working closely with long standing airline partners, Smart ensured exemplary service for every traveller, whether visiting for a short break or a week long pilgrimage. After two decades, Smart has perfected this large scale operation, sourcing the right aircraft for each region and managing a complex schedule that spans Dublin, Cork, Shannon, Knock, Leeds, Liverpool, Manchester, Edinburgh, Bournemouth, London and Glasgow.
July: Mark Hawkins ranked in Spear’s Best Aviation Advisers for 2025
July brought well deserved recognition for Smart Aviation as Spear’s, the London based luxury publication for high net worth individuals, named Managing Director and Founder Mark Hawkins as one of the UK’s Best Aviation Advisers for 2025. The annual list highlights trusted aviation professionals and serves as a key resource for private clients seeking top level aviation services tailored to their unique needs. Mark’s inclusion followed an in depth review of Smart Aviation’s charter performance and a detailed interview with Spear’s. Celebrating 20 years in 2025, Crawley based Smart Aviation continues to lead the way in global aircraft and private jet charters, a journey that began in October 2005 when Mark, a respected sports charter specialist with more than 30 years of senior operational experience, founded the company.
July: Smart swaps PJs for supercars as aviation partner of the Yiannimize Grand Tour
July saw Smart Aviation take centre stage as the exclusive aviation partner for the 2025 Yiannimize Grand Tour, which concluded in Dubrovnik on 5 July. For the second year running, Yiannimize, the bespoke vehicle wrapping and automotive content specialists, hosted an epic week long adventure for supercar owners, this time tracing a spectacular route around the Adriatic coastline with stops in Rome, Florence and Venice before crossing into Croatia to visit Rijeka, Split and finally Dubrovnik. As the tour’s exclusive aviation partner, Smart enjoyed branding across all 40 participating supercars, prominent inclusion in marketing and social media throughout the event, and a visible presence at registration, the opening event and the start line.
August: Matt Feldon, Head of Charter, Celebrated One Year at Smart
August marked one year since Matt Feldon returned to Smart Aviation in the newly created role of Head of Charter, during which he introduced a range of new processes and procedures, expanded the charter team with three new hires and strengthened the overall structure of the department. His leadership has driven a notable rise in enquiries and bookings across the company’s key focus areas, contributing to another strong year for Smart Aviation.
September: Smart became partner member of i.s.t.a.a.
September marked an important milestone as Smart Aviation became a Partner Member of the International Sports Travel Agencies Association (i.s.t.a.a.) joining a global network dedicated to advancing sports tourism. The membership recognises Smart’s 20 year heritage in providing bespoke aircraft movements for team travel and supporter flights, and reinforces its commitment to excellence in the sports travel sector. With members in more than 50 countries, i s t a a connects leading specialists across major global sporting events. As a Partner Member, Smart will contribute to meetings, share expertise and present its services to fellow members, strengthening its presence within the international sports travel community.
October: Smart celebrated 20 years with big birthday bash in London
Smart Aviation celebrated two decades of success in October with a glittering 20th anniversary extravaganza at Cucumber Bar, Sea Containers, on London’s South Bank. More than 140 guests from across Europe joined the exclusive event at the spectacular riverside venue, which boasts panoramic views of the River Thames and London’s iconic skyline. Attendees included long-standing partners such as private jet operators, airlines and fixed-base operators (FBOs). Guests enjoyed a bubbling champagne reception, followed by a fun-filled evening of live music, magic and a specially curated menu of food and drinks.
November: Smart delivers seamless transatlantic charters
November showcased Smart Aviation’s expertise in managing long haul, complex charters, reinforcing more than two decades of precision and excellence in global aircraft and private jet travel. In just one week, the team coordinated three high profile transatlantic movements for an Oscar winning actor, a world renowned sports superstar and a high profile business traveller with his family, each requiring discretion, flexibility and meticulous attention to detail. Smart arranged a Gulfstream G550 for a last minute London to New York flight, a Bombardier Global Express XRS from Northern Europe to Chicago for a World Cup winning footballer, and a Dassault Falcon 7X from Canada to London for a business client, ensuring every journey delivered the right blend of range, comfort, catering, Wi Fi capability and luggage capacity. These missions highlighted Smart’s ability to match each client with the ideal aircraft and manage even the most time sensitive travel with seamless efficiency.
December: Smart Aviation facilitates strategic long-term wet lease for Mozambique Airways
In December, Smart Aviation’s Managing Director, Mark Hawkins, and ACMI Broker Jamie Milsom, travelled to Mozambique to meet with LAM – Linhas Aéreas de Moçambique following the successful commencement of the long-term wet lease in October with Windrose Airlines. During the visit, they spent time with the LAM leadership team, reviewed the performance of the Airbus A319 now operating on domestic and regional routes. The visit further strengthened Smart Aviation’s relationship with LAM and reinforced its commitment to supporting the carrier’s network growth across Southern Africa.
As always, we are available 24/7 to assist with any charter enquiries you may have.
The Smart Team wishes you all happy festive break and a healthy and prosperous New Year.
