ACMI, cargo and charter operator, SmartLynx Airlines, has revealed plans to restructure its fleet and shift to a single-type operation.
The airline explains that the decision is driven by alignment with market trends, and it will exclusively operate within the Airbus aircraft family, focusing on a fleet of A320s and A321s, while reducing its A321F freighter services.
The transition to a unified fleet will be a gradual process, with the goal of completing the shift by mid-2025.
In 2024, SmartLynx Airlines ended the year with a fleet of 68 aircraft and set a new record with over 68,000 flights operated. For the first time in its history, the airline surpassed 10 million passengers in a single year.
Edvinas Demenius, chief executive of SmartLynx Airlines, 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.”
Demenius 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.”
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