Chinese operators slow to introduce 737NG freighters, for now

When Boeing launched its 737-800BCF conversion program at a 2016 event in Shanghai, two-thirds of the launch orders were from operators based in Mainland China, signaling strong operator interest in the narrowbody type. To date, however, just twelve of the nearly sixty 737NG freighters in service operate on Chinese AOCs, falling short of initial expectations. [caption id="attachment_416281" align="alignright" width="560"] China Postal is currently the largest 737-800BCF operator in China, with seven units. (Photo/Boeing)[/caption] Even though China’s 737NG freighter fleet may grow at a steadier pace than had been expected, fleet renewal and expansion are underway. The freighter fleet in service with operators based in Mainland China has increased by twenty-three units since October 2018 , with the 757-200F driving growth in the narrowbody segment. The following table shows the active freighter fleet in Mainland China as of mid-July 2021. The 757-200F surpassed the 737-300F as the most common freighter type in service with Chinese operators in 2020, and the fleet continues to grow as SF Airlines, YTO Cargo Airlines and YTO-affiliate North-western Cargo International Airlines take redelivery of conversions on order with Precision Aircraft Solutions. Cargo Facts would not be surprised to see more of the twenty-four ex-American Airlines 757-200s that AerSale has acquired or will acquire head to China. The formerly dominant 737-300F fleet remains sizable at forty-four units but is declining from a peak of fifty-four units in 2018. China Postal Airlines is the only Chinese operator that has begun replacing 737 Classics with 737NG freighters. Even though the 737 Classic fleet is shrinking and some aircraft have left China altogether — to Africa and Indonesia, for example — others have joined Chinese startup carriers like Central Airlines, which now has five units. China Central Longhao Airlines has transferred much of its operational team from Guangzhou, where it was founded, to Zhengzhou, where its new owner HNCA is based, and is again targeting ambitious fleet growth. The airline began introducing 737NGs to its fleet in November 2020, and now operates a trio of 737-800BCFs alongside a fleet of six 737 Classics, with at least a couple more -800BCFs on the way. Longhao previously forecast adding up to ten 737NGs to its fleet. YTO Cargo Airlines, which was a launch customer for the 737-800BCF has delayed plans to add the type, but recently told Cargo Facts that it still expects to replace its 737 Classics with NGs at some point. When it comes to medium widebodies, as of July 2021, SF Airlines remains the only 767F operator in China, but that will soon change. With a large ex-Air Canada fleet coming off passenger service, SF has already picked up a few for conversion with Boeing, but in March YTO Cargo Airlines acquired two 2003-vintage frames (33423 and 33424) with Pratt & Whitney PW4060 engines and sent them for conversion with Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) in Tel Aviv (TLV). YTO expects to begin flying its first widebody later this year. Apart from converted 767s, China will also see its first factory-built 767-300Fs, with China Central Longhao Airlines being linked to an order from an unidentified customer for five aircraft. Although the carrier does not currently own or operate any widebody aircraft on its own AOC, Longhao has also made inroads to large widebody freighter operations and began ACMI-leasing a 747-400F from China Southern Airlines in late 2020. It is possible Longhao will end up acquiring China Southern’s two production 747-400Fs. Sichuan Airlines is a relative newcomer to freighter operations, having introduced three ex-Qatar Airways A330-200Fs in 2019. The Chengdu-based airline told Cargo Facts early this year that it hopes to continue adding A330s and even intends to expand into narrowbodies with the A321F platform. While most of the fleet additions have been to the narrowbody and medium widebody segments, the large widebody category has grown too, with China Cargo Airlines and China Southern each adding a pair of 777Fs last year. Long-term trade and consumption trends bode well for continued fleet growth in China. Domestic air cargo growth in China is expected to increase by an average of 5.8% annually through 2039, according to Boeing's 2020 WACF. Boeing forecast China's total freighter fleet would grow from around 200 units in 2019, to 750 units by 2039. Not all roses Despite additions to the fleets of both established and new carriers in China, others once active in the domestic market have wound down their freighter operations or gone dormant. China Air Cargo Carrier Corp. launched in 2017 with a pair of 757-200PCFs. The airline operated the freighters on behalf of a regional express carrier for a period of about two years, and at one point had plans to add MA600Fs. No further fleet additions were made and the airline ceased operating in 2019. Both aircraft (27513 and 27517) have been in storage since 2019. Suparna Airlines, formerly Yangtze River Express, has been downsizing its fleet since 2018. Its affiliate carrier and fellow HNA Group affiliate, Tianjin Air Cargo, has seen more in the way of growth with the addition of two 737NGs: a 737-800BCF and a 737-700BDSF in 2019 and 2020, respectively. Uni-Top Airlines, which had seven A300-600Fs — including one (725, ex-China Eastern) that never entered service after conversion with Elbe Flugzeugwerke (EFW) and remains in Dresden (DRS) — ceased all operations in late 2019., leaving Sichuan Airlines as the only Airbus freighter operator in China. Cargo Facts Symposium, taking place LIVE October 25-27 at the Wynn Las Vegas, is the essential event for stakeholders in the air cargo industry. Learn more and register at www.cargofactssymposium.com

Chinese operators slow to introduce 737NG freighters, for now

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