Sri Lankan carrier ramps up cargo capabilities
Fits Air (formerly Expo Air) has wet-leased an A321-200 for cargo-only flights out of Colombo. The Sri Lankan cargo specialist founded in 1997 secured the aircraft from Lithuania's Avion Express, which most recently was in service for the now defunct Thomas Cook Airlines.
The aircraft which operated its first flight on 7 November to Dubai (DXB), will join Fits Air's in-house fleet of a single ATR72-200QC and two C208B Grand Caravans, but its cargo payload of 20 t and its range of five hours exceeds the current capabilities of the first private airline to be licensed for international cargo operations by the Sri Lankan Civil Aviation Authority by far.
With the new aircraft, Fits Air intends to operate scheduled regional flights to the Middle East and Indian Subcontinent and mount charter flights on demand. (ah)