2025 marks the 20th consecutive year that Smart Aviation has been heavily involved in the annual pilgrimages to Lourdes. Over the last two decades, we have now flown over one million passengers from a variety of regional airports to the universal place of meeting, prayer and celebration of life. Our comprehensive six month charter service to Lourdes for our religious tour operator clients commenced in April 2025 and will run until October 2025.
This year, the team will fly over 40,000 passengers on over 100 round trip flights during the summer season and there are new departure airports for 2025 including Bournemouth and London. Some passengers travel to Lourdes for a short break whilst some embrace a week-long pilgrimage. Smart works with some of our long standing airline partners, to guarantee exemplary service for all the charter flights.
Over the last 20 years, Smart has perfected this large-scale operation working with valued tour operator clients who rely on Smart to run seamless flight operations and to source the right aircraft for specific departure destinations.
The complex schedule to the Holy French town includes departures from Dublin, Cork, Shannon, Knock, Leeds, Liverpool, Manchester, Edinburgh, Bournemouth, London and Glasgow.
Smart Aviation’s Managing Director, Mark Hawkins, said: “When I set up Smart 20 years ago, our schedule of Lourdes charters was an integral part of the business and it remains so to this day. It is important to the worshippers that our planning is meticulous, and this is why we continue to be called upon each year to operate this schedule. We know how important this spiritual journey is to our customers, and I personally join a pilgrimage each year to ensure the high standards we have set within the industry are upheld”.
Lourdes is the most visited pilgrimage site in the Christian world, with over six-million people visiting the iconic site at the foothills of the Pyrenees each year each year. The world-renowned pilgrimage began in 1858 when the Marian apparitions of Our Lady of Lourdes appeared to Bernadette Soubirous.
Smart Aviation transports pilgrims to join in-depth programs led by Spiritual Directors and coordinated locally with highly skilled teams. With over 22 places of worship to visit, including the miraculous spring in the Grotto that is famous for its healing waters, travellers can choose between short breaks or weeklong pilgrimages. With a huge demand, travellers are advised to book well in advance.
Throughout the charter operation, Smart provides truly personalised service and handles the most delicate of requests for clients on the pilgrimage including arranging accessibility requirements including wheelchair access, the safe transportation of essential media equipment and supplies, meal requirements, and dedicated handling agents.
