Magma Aviation, an air cargo charter provider that operates five Boeing 747-400 jumbo jets through airline contractors, is expanding its fleet with the addition of two narrow body freighter aircraft. The new additions include a converted Airbus A321 and a Boeing 737-800, which will be stationed in Dubai to enhance service for customers in the Middle East and Africa. The company, headquartered in Gatwick, England, announced on Tuesday that Peter Kerins has been appointed as its new CEO. He replaces Conor Brannigan, who stepped down on July 31 to take up a position as vice president of strategy at Atlas Air, a cargo airline based in New York. In late July, Magma Aviation revealed that it had acquired the two converted freighters, marking a significant step in its expansion efforts. The Airbus A321 and Boeing 737-800 will be crucial in scaling operations and meeting growing demand in the region. Magma Aviation is a subsidiary of the Avia Solutions Group, a major aviation conglomerate based in Dublin with origins in Lithuania. This group also includes Chapman Freeborn, a prominent air charter broker that Avia acquired in 2019. Magma Aviation has recently expanded its fleet by acquiring two standard-size cargo jets, which were transferred from its sister companies: SmartLynx Airlines in Latvia and Air Explore, a Slovak charter and contract carrier that was acquired by Avia Solutions in June 2023. These aircraft are now being operated for Magma by SmartLynx and Air Explore. The company has also set up a new marketing division in Dubai called Magma Aviation DMCC. This new division is part of Magma's strategy to better serve the growing demand for air cargo services in the Middle East, Africa, Europe, and the Indian subcontinent. Audrone Keinyte, who now heads Magma Aviation DMCC, previously served as CEO of Bluebird Nordic, an Iceland-based carrier that was also part of the Avia Solutions Group but closed in April due to a prolonged freight recession. Keinyte noted that the decision to expand geographically was driven by increased demand from freight forwarders and charter brokers for air transport in these regions. The newly acquired freighters are already operating on an ad hoc basis, helping Magma Aviation meet the evolving needs of its clients.