Levu Air Cargo will return its sole Airbus A321 freighter to its lessor after SmartLynx Airlines announced plans to exit freighter operations. The Brazilian airline had launched operations in November, using an Airbus A321 passenger-to-freighter (P2F) aircraft leased from SmartLynx to operate flights on behalf of DHL Express. However, SmartLynx recently revealed it would phase out its A321 freighter fleet by mid-2025, leading to the termination of the lease agreement with Levu Air Cargo.
SmartLynx currently operates 10 A321P2Fs in its fleet but has no other freighter types. The decision will result in the airline ceasing all freighter operations. The aircraft leased to Levu, registered as PS-LVU, is currently parked in Manaus, Brazil, and no departure date is scheduled, according to Planespotters.
Levu Air Cargo has not yet commented on its future operational plans, though Air Cargo News has reached out for further clarification. However, data from Planespotters suggests that Levu is set to take delivery of two additional A321P2Fs, though details regarding the source of these aircraft remain unclear.
Last year, Levu Air Cargo announced a partnership with DHL Supply Chain to launch a domestic air cargo solution in Brazil, with plans to invest €90.5 million and deploy four cargo aircraft. Air Cargo News is awaiting an update from DHL on the progress of this partnership.
Levu Air Cargo, headquartered in Campinas, Brazil, also operates from bases in Recife, Belém, and Manaus, and remains focused on the Brazilian domestic cargo market.