Hi Fly (5K, Beja) is hoping to grow its fleet more than threefold to as many as 100 aircraft within the next ten years, CEO Paulo Mirpuri told Air Transport World.

"I think we can grow a lot more. I think we could grow eventually to over 100 aircraft. This year alone we’re phasing in five aircraft. Over the next 10 years we could reach 100 aircraft - probably sooner," Mirpuri said.

He said that the airline will be adding more second-hand A380-800s. It currently operates a single ex-Singapore Airlines unit through its subsidiary Hi Fly Malta (3L, Malta International). Mirpuri said that further A380s could arrive starting in 2020.

"We believe that additional A380 aircraft will enter our fleet - we need more than two or three," Mirpuri said.

Hi Fly is currently operating sixteen aircraft. The Portuguese unit has a fleet of six aircraft, including one A321-200, two A330-200s, and three A340-300s. The Maltese airline, in turn, operates three A319-100s, one A330-300, one A330-900, four A340-300s, and the single A380.