Photo: SmartLynx
SmartLynx Airlines has decided to restructure its fleet and phase out its A321 freighter operations by mid-2025 in order to exclusively focus on operating passenger Airbus A320 and A321 aircraft.
The ACMI (Aircraft, Crew, Maintenance, Insurance), cargo, and charter operator and lessor did not specify what had prompted the change to its cargo operations, however, in a press release it said that it aimed to focus on sustaining growth, noting operations are shaped by market demand and passenger numbers had grown significantly last year.
SmartLynx said passenger numbers surpassed 10m in 2024 and it had operated more than 68,000 flights.
The airline confirmed to Air Cargo News that it would remove all freighters from its fleet.
"As part of the fleet restructuring, the company plans to redeliver most of the A321F aircraft to the lessors, eventually phasing out the freighter fleet," a SmartLynx spokesperson said.
Data from Planespotters shows there are 10 A321-200Fs in the SmartLynx fleet currently, but SmartLynx did not confirm how many of these aircraft are currently active.
The fleet strategy decision marks a change of direction for the Avia Solutions Group member. Two years ago, SmartLynx had six A321Fs and planned to increase units to 17 by the end of 2024.
The operating environment was generally positive last year. Air cargo demand for 2024 exceeded the record volumes set in 2021 by 0.5%, helped by high e-commerce volumes and ocean shipping constraints, however, there were geopolitical challenges posed by the Ukraine war and Middle East conflicts that restricted airspace, increasing fuel costs.
And SmartLynx is not the only Avia Solutions Group-owned airline to end cargo operations in recent years. In May last year, Icelandic ACMI leasing and cargo charter airline Bluebird Nordic terminated all operations. Like SmartLynx, the airline also had plans to grow its fleet the year before it was disbanded.
Edvinas Demenius, chief executive of SmartLynx, said: "Over the past five years, SmartLynx has grown rapidly, expanding from 12 to nearly 70 aircraft to meet the rising demand for additional capacity.
"By embracing the agility that defines ACMI, we successfully navigated the challenges of the pandemic and the disruptions caused by the war in Ukraine. To sustain our growth and align with our group's strategic goals, we believe now is the right time to make decisions that will further strengthen the company in the long term."
He added: "The industry we operate makes us directly reliant on market demand. Our operations are shaped by industry needs, requiring continuous adaptation to stay aligned with market dynamics.
"Our business model and more than 30 years of experience allow us to be flexible and adaptable enough to rescale to grow sustainably."
