Stored 747 freighter fleet edges lower yet again

Another of the few remaining feasible 747 freighters in storage is about to reenter service. U.A.E.-based Quick Link Aviation Services has reactivated a 1994-vintage 747-400BDSF (27044, ex-Air Atlanta Icelandic) with Pratt & Whitney PW4000-94 engines that had been in hibernation in Kansas City (MCI) for more than four years. [caption id="attachment_416674" align="alignright" width="560"] The two stored China Airlines 747-400Fs will soon fly again. (Photo/JetOneX)[/caption] The aircraft will soon fly to Malta, where it is registered, and then around the world as part of a new operation from China, according to Vice President Commercial Magdy El Ghandour in a social media post. Unit 27044, which was deregistered with the Federal Aviation Administration on Aug. 23 and exported to Malta, arrived in Istanbul (IST) from MCI on Sept. 15, wearing “Mesk Air” branding. It is unclear at this point whether Mesk Air is a new affiliate set up by Quick Link, which offers charter and ACMI services. The company could not immediately be reached for comment. Quick Link is one of a few other U.A.E.-based companies to expand their presence in the freighter market by purchasing or leasing their own aircraft. Recently, Sky One leased a second 737-400F (25102, ex-Alaska Airlines), while earlier this year Global Service Solutions (GSS) reactivated a 1981-vintage nose-loading 747-200F (22545, ex-Air Georgia). Apart from unit 27044, several other 747 freighters will join the active fleet worldwide shortly. National Airlines, which bought the Global Supertanker (25308) and sent it to the VT San Antonio Aerospace facility in San Antonio (SAT) for modification and maintenance, brought the 747-400BCF to Orlando (MCO) on Sept. 24, almost a year after the carrier began flying the first of three ex-Cathay Pacific 747-400BCFs it reactivated. At the same time, JetOneX is leasing the two production 747-400Fs (30760 and 30761) that China Airlines has parked since 2012 and intends to have them leave Victorville (VCV) in the weeks ahead, according to the company, while a 747-400BCF (25205, ex-Korean Air) and a 747-400BDSF (27063, ex-EVA Air) are undergoing maintenance in Frankfurt (HHN) and Jakarta (CGK), respectively, after leaving storage earlier this summer. Cargo Facts Symposium, taking place LIVE Oct. 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 .

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