Listen: The expanding 737-800F fleet

Last week saw numerous 737-800 transactions and for good reason. More and more carriers around the world are adding the type to their fleets, including both existing freighter operators and those turning to the 737-800 as an entry point into cargo operations. In this episode of “Cargo Facts Connect,” Cargo Facts Deputy Editor Jeff Lee and Associate Editor Andrew Crider discuss some new 737 operators and provide an overview of the 737-800 freighter fleet as it expands in most of the world but contracts as a result of the outbreak of war in Ukraine. A transcript is available below. This transcript has been generated by software and is being presented as is. Some transcription errors may remain. Andrew Crider Hello and welcome to this episode of cargo facts connect the podcast of cargo facts, the newsletter of record for the air cargo and freighter aircraft industries for over 40 years. I'm your host Andrew Crider, associate editor of cargo facts. Jeff Lee And I'm Jeff Lee, deputy editor. Andrew Crider In our last episode of cargo facts connect we teased big news for 737 Next Generation freighters and the week surely didn't disappoint. We reported on 2 737 800 F stories involving Express air cargo and West Atlantic. Jeff Lee We did and interestingly, both of those 737 800 freighters currently belong to Blackrock. with Express air cargo in Tunisia the carrier told us that it will be purchasing that 737 adding to its two current 300 freighters. Express air cargo also said that it intends to acquire another 800 In the next few months. So it's interesting we are now seeing these 800 freighters, basically expanding the footprint around the world. If we look at West Atlantic, the group already has 3 737 800BCFs three in Sweden, and one in the UK. This will be the group's first 737 800 SF. And we had previously seen a photo in Swift as colors, but we got confirmation from West Atlantic that they will be placing it on the Swedish certificate. And sure enough, now it's been it isn't a swift livery, but it has got West Atlantic titles on it as well. So we'll see whether the group continues to add more 800 SFs. we know swiftair in Spain is also adding the BDSF type for DHL. It already has one and I think we'll soon see a second one, and these are CMI aircraft DHL, like I mentioned. But as more and more of the 737 eight hundreds get converted, I'm sure we'll continue to see them joining new operators. And just as a reminder, you know, the vast majority of these 800 currently being converted are all owned by lessors. And just there's a very long list of lessons that are converting 800 But just as a brief reminder, we've got AerCap obviously the largest with around 70 plus 800BCFs in total. Not all of them are converted yet but the the order book is at least 70 aircraft got Aero capital solutions for 34 800 SF. We've got BBAM 30 31 800 BCFs GA Telesis 12 800 SF Blackrock 11 800 SF ice lease 11 BCFS Worldstar aviation with at least 10 800 BDSFs and possibly 10 more and Avia leasing with at least 10 BCFS and that's just you know, the the top several but there are more that we know of and probably more that we don't know of yet. Andrew Crider That's That's absolutely right. And so far in 2022 We've seen a number of new conversions and new operators. Take for example Bahrain based texel air with their latest addition was the first 737 800 BCF for texel and it will be the first for any Middle Eastern operator for 737 800 carrier. We have unit 29985 It's going to be joining a 1998 Vintage unit 27459 and a 2004 Vintage 737 700 FC unit 30293 as well as a 2005 Vintage 737 700 FC that's unit 34170 And then an older 1997 Vintage 737 300 F units 28200 which left the fleet after it came off lease and 21 tech stole is the second 737 800 bt CF. Our texel has another 737 800 BCF on the way as well. And speaking of first for regents Chrono aviation became the first seven 300 800 SF operator in Canada. chrono itself has an additional 737 800 737200 and as set up a new division just to focus on cargo operations. Chrono aviation has also has a second 737 800 SF that will begin conversion later this year. And lastly, Georgia has a new 737 Next generator for prayer that's going to be the third for the country. With a new carrier Georgian airlines, the startup confirmed it was leasing the 1999 Vintage unit 28595, which was in previously in service with air Italy, freshly converted 737 800 BCF owned by BBM. Jeff Lee That's fine. And we actually know of at least a couple more new operators. So for example, we know that copa airlines in Panama took delivery of the first of 2737 800 PCs. And that aircraft, rejoined the fleet end of 2021. But they have yet to begin actual commercial operations. But that, but that will happen soon. We know for example, and Canada, again, we've got WestJet that will soon take the first of several 737 800 BCFs. We know as we recently talked about in our story, Jeju Air in South Korea, We have got possibly another one in Africa, that soon will hope to bring you that story. And we've got another possibly new operator in the UK or at least another new customer of 737 800. That will, we'll try and find out more on that story. Andrew Crider It is quite a mystery in the UK, and I'm looking forward to hearing about it more. And speaking of 7378 Hundreds there's also the distinct possibility that a few could change hands as a result of the conflict in Eastern Europe. There's just further disrupting the cargo market. Take for example, a few 737 BCF that volga Dnepr carrier Atran has in its fleet. Atran leases a fleet of 6 737 BCF from AerCap. S seven which launched their cargo operations with two 737. Next Generations leased from air cap, as well may also fall into predicaments with sanctions as a result of the conflict and Ukraine. Boeing suspended its support for operations in Russia, and the sanctions could potentially bring premature termination to lease agreements. It's currently unclear how when or even if repossession will take place, but Lina has to say these are very dramatic disruptions. Jeff Lee Right. And just on the topic of Russia, actually, we knew of another carrier that expected to take 737 BCF and to actually launch free to operations with these, these aircraft. But and that was nordstar Airline. But sadly, these bcfs were basically almost on the brink of delivery to the to the to the airline, but that just as the sanctions kicked in, these will now no longer be heading to Russia and joining that airline. So it's one of the side effects of, of all this that's going on. But in other major news. The very end of last week, Ethiopian Airlines became the second known airline and customer to have committed to Boeing's new triple seven dash eight F with an MOU for five units. And obviously this is good news for both Boeing and Ethiopian. We know that Ethiopian had been hoping to expand it's freighter fleet actually both wide bodies and narrow bodies. They have nine double sevens right now. They had 10, but they lost one. And it was interesting because we Ethiopian had on the passenger side at least, has both triple sevens, and a 350s. So they could potentially have gone the for the Airbus a350f too. But it now appears they have, at least for now chosen the triple seven dash f and with five, obviously that's nothing compared to the massive launch order that Qatar had. But nevertheless, it just shows the this intense competition now between Airbus and Boeing and the large, wide body space. And I'm sure will continue and we look forward to seeing more of these announcements of carriers around the world. Major combination carriers, no less sound to think about their next steps in terms of these large wide body freighters. Andrew Crider With that, that's it for today. For those of you tuning in to this episode of cargo Facts Connect thank you. For more multimedia content like this, check out cargofacts.com and search cargo Facts connect on iTunes Spotify. Join us again next time Subscribe to Cargo Facts Connect on iTunes or Spotify , or download the episode on Transistor . Cargo Facts EMEA will take place LIVE May 9-11 in Dubai. Learn more and register.

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