Gestair plans to launch 767-300 freighter service between the US and EU

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Spain-based Corporación Ygnus Air (C Ygnus, which operates as GESTAIR CARGO) applied to the US Department of Transportation for a Foreign Air Carrier permit, and for an exemption to operate all-cargo services between the US and the EU until the permit is issued. In its application, C Ygnus said it intended to operate 767 freighter service five times weekly between New York and a point in the EU beginning at the end of November, and that the service will be “all-cargo wet lease operations on behalf of another foreign air carrier.” The carrier also said it plans to lease two 767 freighters, one as a primary aircraft and the other as backup, and that it “is currently in lease negotiations with the lessor of these aircraft.” Cargo Facts believes that the freighters will be 767-300BDSFs, leased from GUGGENHEIM AVIATION PARTNERS (GAP), and that Gestair will operate them on behalf of TNT. GAP recently took delivery of a 767-300BDSF from M&B CONVERSIONS following conversion at BEDEK AVIATION GROUP’s Tel Aviv facility, and has two more units in conversion with redelivery scheduled for the fourth quarter of this year. The first unit is committed to an unidentified customer, while Cargo Facts believes Gestair will take the second and third. Gestair currently operates two Precision-converted 757-200PCFs (one of which is shown below) in ACMI service to IBERIA.