Uptick in freighter aircraft transactions ahead of peak season

Even though it was a short work-week for many Americans in the United States celebrating Thanksgiving, mid-November continues to be a busy period for Freighter Aircraft Transactions as carriers rush to add aircraft ahead of this year’s peak season.

Each reference to a freighter aircraft transaction (FAT) in our publications contains a unique FAT code linked to the FAT database on the CargoFacts.com website. This database is available to subscribers as an interactive tool on our website, and you can go to it from the “FAT Data” tab at the top of the home page, or directly at https://cargofacts.com/fat

Now, here’s a look at this week’s Freighter Aircraft Transactions:

Etihad Airways adds a 777F. After parking its five A330-200Fs nearly a year ago, Abu Dhabi-headquartered Etihad has operated a slimmed-down freighter fleet of just five 777Fs. With the delivery of a sixth 777 production freighter (60509) this week, the carrier has no additional freighters on order [FAT 004701]. Etihad has also reduced its freighter network to twenty-eight points plus its hub over the past year, following financial troubles that sparked rumors (denied by both parties) that Dubai-based Emirates could take over Etihad. Moving forward, Cargo Facts expects Etihad to sell or lease at least one of its 777Fs to another carrier.

FedEx took delivery of another 767-300ERF (63101) [FAT 004702]. This is the second new production freighter delivered this month and its eighth delivered since Boeing and FedEx jointly announced an order for twelve more 767Fs in June.

Cargo Aircraft Management (CAM) acquired a 767-300 (24035, ex-American Airlines) from Jetran, and will have the aircraft converted to freighter configuration [FATs 004703-4704]. During its most recent earnings call, CAM’s parent company, Air Transport Services Group, said CAM will likely place between eight and ten 767-300Fs into service next year.

SkyTaxi adds first widebody freighter with the delivery of a freighter-converted 767-200F (23021) [FAT 004700]. The aircraft is on lease from Air Transport Services Group’s CAM leasing subsidiary.

DHL Express took redelivery of a 757-200PCF (29589, ex-American Airlines) following the aircraft’s conversion to freighter configuration with Precision Aircraft Solutions at the Flightstar facility in Jacksonville (VQQ) [FAT 004705].

Aviastar-TU adds another 757-200PCF (25597, ex-Yakutia Airlines) [FAT 004706]. Yakutia put the aircraft, which had been on lease from Aviation Capital Group, into storage at Moscow’s Vnukovo Airport (VKO) earlier this year, to focus on passenger operations. Cargo Facts believes Aviastar is leasing the aircraft from ACG. This aircraft represents the third 757-200PCF to join Aviastar’s fleet this year.

Bulgaria-based Cargo Air acquired a 737-400 (28882, ex-Go2Sky), with plans to initially operate the aircraft on an ACMI basis in passenger service before eventually having it converted to freighter configuration [FAT 004707]. The carrier operated another 737-400 (28038) it put into conversion with Aeronautical Engineers, Inc., last week in a similar way. Cargo Air’s fleet includes three 737-300Fs and six 737-400Fs, in addition to the aircraft that just entered conversion. Cargo Air also has 737-800BCF conversions on order with Boeing.

Kenya-based Aerospace Consortium acquired two ex-West Atlantic Sweden BAe ATP freighters (2015, 2017) and took delivery of the first [FATs 004708-4710]. The freighters will operate on behalf of Kenya-based EnComm Ltd.