Swiftair (WT, Madrid Barajas) has begun preparations to establish and certify Swiftair Malta, Maltese aviation website MAviO has reported citing internal sources.

The start-up has reportedly hired its first staff members, including a head of CAMO and a head of flight operations. It plans to launch with ATR - Avions de Transport Régional freighters, although the number and the exact variant are unknown. However, no timeline was revealed.

The Maltese business register does not show any company under the name of "Swiftair". The Spanish carrier did not respond to ch-aviation's request for comment.

Swiftair's fleet currently comprises five ATR42-300(F)s, one ATR72-200, six ATR72-200(F)s, six ATR72-500(F)s, three ATR72-500(QC)s, one B737-300(F), one B737-400(F), ten B737-400(SF)s, one B737-800(BCF), three B737-800(BDSF)s, two B757-200(PCF)s, one B757-200(PF), one EMB-120ER(F), four EMB-120RT(F)s, and one EMB-120RT(QC), the ch-aviation fleets module shows. The carrier has a Greek subsidiary, Swiftair Hellas, which operates three Metroliner(F)s, one EMB-120ER(F), and one EMB-120RT(F). It also owns Spain's Cygnus Air with a fleet of four B757-200(PCF)s and is the majority shareholder in West Atlantic Group, the parent of West Atlantic (United Kingdom) and West Atlantic Sweden.