North Carolina’s 21 Air to partner Maleth Aero

21 Air (2I, Greensboro) has entered into a long-term sub-service agreement with Puerto Rico-based AELF – Aircraft Engine Lease Finance and Malta’s Maleth-Aero (DB, Malta Int’l) over the launch of charter cargo operations with two A330-200s later this month. With their seating removed, the makeshift freighters will shortly be added to Maleth Aero’s AOC with 21 Air to market them via a joint-venture agreement. The aircraft are capable of carrying a maximum payload of 50 tons, and 232 cubic metres, 21 Air said, adding that as the marketing representative for this venture, it “plans to satisfy specific flight programs that meet these requirements for several international routings.” The move is part of the carrier’s efforts “to expand its service capabilities to appeal to a wider group of shippers and freight forwarders […] during a time when air cargo demand has shifted a larger share to all-cargo aircraft,” chief commercial officer Roy Linkner explained in the statement. 21 Air currently operates two leased B767-200(ERBDSF)s, the ch-aviation fleets advanced module shows.