Amerijet’s Strauss on ACMI future

Miami-based Amerijet International commenced operating a fourth 767-200BDSF (23140) on a CMI basis for DHL Express — the fourth and final aircraft DHL Express has reassigned from Atlas Air to Amerijet [FATs 00 5992-5993 ]. For Amerijet, the four-unit CMI deal represents fleet growth of 50% and further diversifies a business model previously built around the carrier’s own scheduled cargo services to Latin America and the Caribbean , operated out of Amerijet’s Miami (MIA) hub. [caption id="attachment_414594" align="alignright" width="560"] Apart from operating DHL aircraft, Amerijet’s own fleet consists of seven 767-300BDSFs and a 767-200BDSF. (Photo/Amerijet)[/caption] Amerijet began operating the DHL-owned 767-200BDSF on a CMI basis on Feb. 25 with a flight from DHL’s Cincinnati Americas hub (CVG) to Houston (IAH ). “ I definitely think we'll be flying more CMI and ACMI routes for the next number of years ,” said Tim Strauss, who assumed the role of CEO in August 2020. DHL and Amazon have multiple 767s undergoing conversion to freighter configuration with expected CMI agreements that have not yet been allocated. DHL placed 767 conversion orders with both Boeing and IAI last year and expects to take redelivery of at least seven freighters before the end of 2021 . Amazon has acquired eleven 767-300ERs and is in the process of converting those to freighter configuration with IAI . For the time being, Amerijet has no further plans to add DHL aircraft and will instead focus its efforts on on-time performance for the recent additions and scaling up its operation for future growth. With the fourth aircraft on Amerijet’s AOC, “We'll run that for a while, and we'll see how it goes with the system,” Strauss s aid. Carriers that provide CMI lift face limitations in the number of aircraft th ey can add and as a result, companies that rely on lift, such as Amazon and DHL , award contracts on an incremental basis to temper growth and ensure quality. “ It's all performance - based. They are never going to give you their airplane unless you can keep it at the right on-time performance , ” Strauss said. Depending on network requirements and how CMI operators might fit in , “t hey parse th e aircraft out a little bit at a time . ” Th e Atlas - to - Amerijet transfer represents the second time DHL Express has reassigned the group of freighter-converted 767-200BDSFs since they were converted. Prior to joining the Atlas Air fleet in 2014 and 2015, the aircraft (23016, 23018, 23019 and 23 1 40) were operated by ATSG affiliate ABX Air. Looking beyond the DHL CMI operations, Amerijet has been charting a course for long-haul operations since well before the pandemic . In early March 2020, the carrier received ETOPS certification for its 767-300BDSF fleet, enabling non-stop trans-Atlantic flying and expanded its collaboration with express integrators . “T hose elements get us into AC M I and CMI flying at a higher level than what we have been doing,” Strauss s aid. A major component of Amerijet’s growth strategy has been to overhaul its internal crew scheduling, cargo management and accounting systems. “You can do a lot of things on a five - to-six airplane system with paper that you can't do with the twelve - to-fifteen airplane system,” said Strauss. Excluding the CMI ops for DHL, Amerijet’s own fleet is comprised of seven 767-300BDSFs and a 767-200BDSF. Additionally, the carrier is sub-leasing an A321-200P2F from Titan Airways . Cargo Facts Asia, taking place April 20-21 as a virtual experience, is the event for exploring opportunity in the Asia-Pacific region. The event continues to bring together the best, brightest, and most innovative executives in the global air cargo industry. Learn more and register at www.cargofactsasia.com .

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