SmartLynx Malta enters the freighter market with two A321’s
It is the first operator to have A321-200Fs converted by both 321 Precision Conversions and Elbe Flugzeugwerke (EFW).
SmartLynx Malta, subsidiary of a leading ACMI and charter provider SmartLynx Airlines, signed a lease contract with VALLAIR adding two newly converted A321-200 Freighters to company’s fleet.
SmartLynx Malta is the first operator to have A321-200Fs converted by both 321 Precision Conversions and Elbe Flugzeugwerke (EFW). Both are high-quality products, and despite minor differences in direct operational costs, the company decided to go with both STC’s to be able to offer its customer flexibility to compare and choose according to their requirements.
The addition of MSN 891 and MSN 1017 is just the first part of the company’s projections to step in deeper into the freighter market. The airline is in discussion for further aircraft, planning to reach ten A321 units by 2023.
“MSN 891 and MSN 1017 will be the first ones joining SmartLynx fleet, and entering the freighter market was a part of our expansion strategy placed in 2019. We plan to add eight more aircraft in the next three years, reaching 10 units by 2023, all AIRBUS type. When we were considering freighter models, we have looked into 737 Classics, 737NGs and A321s, but the clear choice was A321 firstly because of its favourable results in regards to CO2 emission compared to other models, and there is the advantage of a commodity with the rest of our fleet. In parallel, we are growing exposure in the charter business, so after the passenger market recovery, we will have one of the most competitive passenger/cargo platforms in the continent.” comments SmartLynx Airlines CEO, Zygimantas Surintas.
