SmartLynx

SmartLynx Airlines disbanding cargo charter fleet

SmartLynx, a Latvia-based provider of aircraft and crews for airlines, is abandoning freighter operations and its fleet of Airbus A321 converted cargo jets to focus on passenger flying, the company said Thursday.

The for-hire airline, part of Avia Solutions Group, said it is streamlining its fleet to only have narrowbody Airbus A320 and A321 passenger aircraft because a common fleet is less expensive to operate. The announcement indicated SmartLynx Airlines is downsizing the fleet of narrowbody...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/smartlynx-airlines-disbanding-cargo-charter-fleet

DHL deja caer a las aerolíneas de SmartLynx como socio de carga en Europa

DHL Express ha finalizado su contrato con SmartLynx Airlines para proporcionar servicios de transporte aéreo en su red de paquetes europeos, según el transportista con sede en Riga, Letonia. Una base de datos de aviones muestra SmartLynx a principios de febrero colocó cinco aviones en...

https://fullavantenews.com/dhl-deja-caer-a-las-aerolineas-de-smartlynx-como-socio-de-carga-en-europa/?lang=es

DHL drops SmartLynx Airlines as cargo partner in Europe

DHL Express has ended its contract with SmartLynx Airlines to provide air transport services in its European package network, according to the Riga, Latvia-based carrier. 

An aircraft database shows SmartLynx in early February placed five aircraft in storage. A conservative assumption that the planes lease for about $225,000 per month suggests that the idle aircraft will cost the airline more than $1 million per month. 

SmartLynx Airlines is a provider of outsourced capacity for commercial...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/dhl-drops-smartlynx-airlines-as-cargo-partner-in-europe

Leasing companies secure slots to convert aircraft for cargo

Close of a cargo aircraft with the side cargo door raised.

Several aircraft leasing companies on Thursday reserved production slots with aftermarket overhaul specialists to convert used passenger aircraft to cargo jets. 

The flurry of transactions illustrates that cargo operators continue to have an appetite for large and standard freighters even as demand for air shipping cools off in a murky economic environment.

Lessors and investors have shown greater interest in freighters since the pandemic as airlines downsized and turned to more modern aircraft...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/leasing-companies-secure-slots-to-convert-aircraft-for-cargo

DHL Express to add 6 A321 converted freighters operated by SmartLynx

A white plane with gold rear section takes off.

Latvian contract carrier SmartLynx Airlines is adding six Airbus A321 converted freighters, bringing the total number of the aircraft type in its fleet to 14 in 2023. Company officials say they want to be the largest operator of the new freighter, which is gaining popularity as a highly capable, fuel efficient asset for short-haul and regional express services.

Elbe Flugzeugwerke (EFW), a partnership between Airbus and Singapore’s ST Engineering, announced Wednesday it will structurally modify...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/dhl-express-to-add-6-a321-converted-freighters-operated-by-smartlynx

Cargo attracts small European passenger airlines

A large white plane with Airhub Airlines brand touches down on runway on gray day.

Three small passenger airlines new to the air cargo business are deploying temporary and fully converted freighters for the first time in the latest example of niche carriers branching out to take advantage of strong market conditions. The extra capacity is a positive — if small — positive development for an airfreight market that remains woefully short of supply.

Experts say air cargo capacity is at a 13% deficit compared to 2019 while demand for goods is up 3% to 9%, depending on the source....

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/cargo-attracts-small-european-passenger-airlines

Latvian airline leases A330 jets, removes seats for cargo

A large white jet with no logo on it, viewed from close at 45-degree angle on bright day.

Latvia’s SmartLynx Airlines, responding to strong market incentives, is diving deeper into the cargo business with the lease of five Airbus A330 widebody aircraft that have had their seats temporarily removed to increase cargo capacity. 

The global economic recovery from the COVID pandemic is on a 6% growth trajectory this year, but the supply of aircraft is 14% to 18% below pre-crisis levels due to severe flight reductions by international passenger carriers. Interest in air is high to quickly...

https://s29755.pcdn.co/news/latvian-airline-leases-a330-jets-removes-seats-for-cargo

DHL Express gets creative with new aviation partnerships

Pallets of air cargo on carts waiting to be loaded into a white plane at night.

DHL Express last week made two unusual additions to its roster of contract carriers that bring with them extra aircraft to help the parcel carrier meet escalating growth in e-commerce shipments.

The express delivery arm of postal and logistics giant Deutsche Post DHL Group (DIX: DPW) arranged for German leisure airline Condor and a start-up cargo division of Latvian carrier SmartLynx to fly packages in its European air network.

The first cargo flights under the Condor partnership began last week....

https://s29755.pcdn.co/news/dhl-express-gets-creative-with-new-aviation-partnerships