Air71 evaluates freighters

Bangladesh-based Air71 intends to enter the cargo market with narrowbody jet freighters and is decidin g between 757 s and 737NGs. [caption id="attachment_414610" align="alignright" width="500"] AerSale recently announced the purchase of twenty-four 757-200s, some of which will be converted. (Photo: AerSale)[/caption] The s tartup told Cargo Facts it had been planning to become a cargo airline for a while , given a “ vibrant” market , strong manufacturing industries and f avo r able economics . The primary challenge , which the company is currently working through, relates to financing . Air71 recently obtained a No Objection Certificate from the Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh in October and aims to commence operation s not before August or September 2021. According to Air71, its first pick of aircraft type is the 757-200F , which offers the right combination of capacity and range for international flights. To that end, the company had initially contemplated dry leasing two sisterships , but is now considering the outright purchase of one aircraft and the lease of a second, with the option to purchase. The second option is the 737-800F , which could entail the purchase of passenger frames as conversion feedstock or the lease of converted units. Air71 said it is still evaluating its model selection based on factors such as price, feedstock, availability , and other technical aspects. Two more aircraft could follow i n six to eight years, according to the carrier's business plan, While Air71 plans to operate mostly scheduled international flights, it is also open to non-scheduled charters and ACMI operations. Bangladesh is also home to cargo carriers Bismillah Airlines and Sky Capital Airlines. We note Icelandair ’s announce ment in early October that it had sold three 757-200s for freighter conversion , while AerSale announced in September that it would purchase twenty-four 757-200 s and convert at least some of them into freighters. Six frames have since been acquired by AerSale (27808, 29593 , 29594, 30548, 30886 and 30887) , all previously operated by American Airlines. Meanwhile, a number of lessors began 737-800 conversion for the first time this year, including Aero Capital Solutions, Aircraft Finance Germany, B lackRock and GA Telesis. Other startups planning to begin operations in 2021 include Antigua-based Wadadli Cargo with a 737-800F and an ATR 72-200F, and Malta-based SVL Airlines, which had been looking at leasing two 737-400Fs but recently told Cargo Facts it is now also considering -800Fs.

Air71 evaluates freighters

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