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ACE 2026 - September 8th

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Smart celebrates 20 years in air charter
Smart Aviation has marked two decades of growth, in which it expanded from a small office in Crawley to a global aviation broker.
Mark Hawkins, managing director of Smart Aviation.

Smart Aviation, a UK-based charter broker, has celebrated its 20th anniversary in 2025. Founded by managing director Mark Hawkins in October 2005, the company began from a modest office on Crawley High Street and has developed into a highly regarded charter broker in the aviation sector.

Over the past two decades, Smart Aviation has transported hundreds of thousands of passengers to major football championship finals and Lourdes, facilitated over 40,000 annual regional flights and brokered substantial ACMI leasing agreements. The company has also flown over a million business and leisure passengers on private jets and helicopters worldwide.

Mark Hawkins, managing director of Smart Aviation, says: “I set up Smart Aviation with one goal; for our clients to enjoy doing business with us, and this is still my main driver every day. I am extremely proud of the company, the team I have built and the phenomenal success we have had since 2005. It's not always been smooth sailing; COVID-19 was a particularly difficult time for the aviation industry, but we bounced back and continue to offer the highest level of service and cost-effective solutions that our clients expect to receive from us. As a company we are trusted, not only by our loyal clients but by our staff, many of whom have been with me since the very beginning. We have welcomed four new members in the last six months due to a period of accelerated growth, so I am excited to see what the next 20 years holds for Smart Aviation. I'd like to thank our loyal suppliers and clients for being such a pivotal part of our history.”

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