SF Airlines adds its 50th freighter

On 21 December, SF Airlines took redelivery of a 757-200PCF (27201) following its conversion to freighter configuration by Precision at the Ameco facility in Chengdu. The redelivery brings SF’s freighter fleet up to fifty units.

The airline affiliate of SF Express has grown its freighter fleet at an impressive rate, from only ten freighters in 2012 to more than thirty in 2016, when the carrier put its first widebody freighter, a Boeing-converted 767-300F, into service. Furthermore, the carrier – which operates the largest freighter fleet of any China-based airline – shows no signs of slowing its growth. Late in October of this year, SF took redelivery of the first of two ex-Jade Cargo 747-400ERFs it won at auction a year ago this month, marking the first large widebody in operation in SF’s livery. The remaining 747F is still in storage at Shanghai Pudong (PVG).

Moves from SF and its parent company, SF Holding, during 2018 indicate the large scale of the companies’ ambitions in Asia’s growing express sector. Alongside adding more aircraft to SF Airlines’ freighter fleet,  SF Holding and Deutsche Post DHL Group announced in October that DP-DHL would transfer its regional supply chain operations in Macau, Hong Kong, and Mainland China to SF Holding, greatly expanding SF’s domestic logistics capabilities. Even earlier this year, SF Express joined a “Malaysia-China cross-border e-commerce sharing platform” initiative. Both deals are demonstrative of SF’s business focus on helping Chinese companies expand their reach into other markets.

The fifty freighter aircraft SF Airlines currently operate include one 747-400ERF, five 767-300BCFs, twenty-seven 757-200Fs, fourteen 737-300Fs and three 737-400Fs. The carrier also has additional 757 and 767 aircraft currently in conversion, and 737-800BCF conversions on order with Boeing.

Those interested in learning more about the future of passenger-to-freighter conversions are invited to join us Cargo Facts EMEA, to be held 4-6 February at The Westin Grand Frankfurt.  To register or for more information, visit www.cargofactsemea.com.