Latvia’s SmartLynx to add six A330-300P2Fs

SmartLynx Airlines (6Y, Riga) says it will lease six A330-300(P2F)s from Air Transport Services Group on six-year contracts with the first due to complete P2F conversion and deliver in 2023.

“The introduction of the A330-300 is a logical step and one which creates relevant synergies with the rest of our fleet – A330 Pax and A321F units – and as an aircraft which will see increased popularity in a post-Covid environment,” Zygimantas Surintas, CEO of SmartLynx Airlines, said. “For us, the move comes as part of our fleet modernisation strategy providing greater capacity and efficiency and is another step towards SmartLynx Airlines becoming a leading global player in the air cargo marketplace.”

The jets will presumably be placed on the Latvian holdings’ SmartLynx Airlines Malta (LYX, Malta Int’l) AOC which already includes five A330-300 preighters as well as one A321-200(P2F) and one A321-200(PCF). It also includes seven A320-200s and two A321-200s. The two A321Fs are wet-leased out to EAT Leipzig (QY, Leipzig/Halle) which uses them for DHL Express flights.