Russia-based Aviastar-Tu has expanded its fleet with the addition of another 757-200PCF.
The carrier confirmed to Cargo Facts that it is leasing the 757 (27056, ex-American Airlines) from Airwork, and that the aircraft will enter service shortly once all the necessary formalities are completed [FAT 006009].
Unit 27056, which arrived in Moscow (VKO) Feb. 28, was converted into freighter configuration by Precision Aircraft Solutions at the AerSale facility in Goodyear (GYR). The 757-200PCF was completed in the second half of 2020 and had been seen in the colors of Greece-based Olympus Airways last October.
Aviastar-TU told Cargo Facts that unit 27056 is currently all-white and that a livery will be applied at a later date.
The carrier said it plans to grow its fleet by one or two more 757s in 2021 and will use them to either operate new routes or increase frequencies on existing ones.
Aviastar-TU has long-term charter agreements with Alibaba’s logistics arm, Cainiao. Last July, the airline took delivery of a Cainiao-branded 757-200PCF (27051, ex-American Airlines) to help address increasing volumes of cross-border e-commerce shipments from China to Russia and the rest of Europe.
The latest addition takes Aviastar’s fleet to four ex-American Airlines 757-200PCFs, all on lease from Airwork, and four Tu-204-100Cs, including one also painted in Cainiao colors and another in DHL colors.
Aviastar previously had another 757-200PCF (25597, ex-Yakutia Airlines); that aircraft is currently parked and no longer on Aviastar’s AOC, with operations not expected at least in the short term, according to Aviastar.
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