SmartLynx Airlines Malta (LYX, Malta Int'l) took delivery of its first widebody aircraft, an A330-300, on May 31, 2021, Skyliner Aviation has reported.

9H-SMD (msn 1382) is an 8.3-year-old aircraft owned by CDB Aviation. It was ferried from Birmingham Int'l to Malta Int'l on May 31 but has yet to be inducted into service. The ex-Singapore Airlines and Evelop Airlines Airbus widebody will be operated in a makeshift freighter configuration for the time being. However, SmartLynx Airlines said earlier this year that as passenger demand returns, it would eventually return the jet to its original passenger configuration.

SmartLynx Airlines Malta plans to induct a total of five A330-300s, including at least four dry-leased from CDB Aviation, by the end of the month. The airline's current fleet comprises three A320-200s and one A321-200s; it is also due to induct two A321-200(P2F)s shortly. Sister carriers SmartLynx Airlines (6Y, Riga) and SmartLynx Airlines Estonia (MYX, Tallinn Lennart Meri) together operate a further six A320s and seven A321s, the ch-aviation fleets advanced module shows.