Moldova-based Aerotranscargo has reactivated another 747-400BDSF that had been in storage for a year. The aircraft (24998) previously operated on the AOC of the now-defunct Air Cargo Global, but was parked in Liege (LGG) in October 2019.
Aerotranscargo had recently told Cargo Facts it would ferry unit 24998, which it owns, out of LGG for a C-check ahead of reentry into service. The aircraft, dry-leased to Air Cargo Global in 2019, was photographed Oct. 7 with its new Moldovan registration landing in Jakarta (CGK), where the GMF AeroAsia facility is capable of performing maintenance on 747s.
This will be the third 747 freighter Aerotranscargo has brought back into service in 2020; in September another ex-Air Cargo Global 747-400BDSF (25075) was ferried to Frankfurt-Hahn (HHN), while in May a 747-400BCF (24459, ex-Thai Cargo) was dry-leased to Moldova-based Terra Avia to operate.
Aerotranscargo, which is expecting to bring another ex-Thai Cargo 747-400BCF (24458) online this year, had previously told Cargo Facts it was looking to add more freighters to its all-747 fleet, which now consists of a production 747-400F (26558, ex-Singapore Airlines Cargo); two 747-400BCFs (24458 and 24459, both ex-Thai); and five 747-400BDSFs (24312, ex-Air Cargo Germany; 24998 and 25075, both ex-ACG; 26562, ex-Southern Air; and 27071, ex-Centurion Air Cargo).
Apart from its freighters, Aerotranscargo began offering a reconfigured passenger 747-400 (28959) for cargo in June, also operated by Terra Avia.
Aerotranscargo boosted its commercial capabilities with the appointment of U.K.-based Air One Aviation Limited as its exclusive global sales agent from August 2020 to handle all sales and marketing activity on its behalf.
As the traditional peak period approaches, it is not surprising to see operators adding any capacity they can; National Airlines, for example, is in the process of reactivating three 747-400BCFs, while the third 747-400BDSF (24311) that made up the Air Cargo Global fleet, previously stranded in Karaganda, Kazakhstan, (KGF) from mid-December until June 13, was repossessed by U.A.E.-based Aquiline International earlier this year and is expected to soon join Belarus-based Rubystar Airways after maintenance in Sharjah (SHJ).
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