Cargo Air orders last 737 Classic conversion, brings forward NGs

[caption id="attachment_414228" align="alignright" width="460"] Cargo Air currently has three 737-300SFs and seven 737-400SFs, all converted by AEI. (Photo: Cargo Air)[/caption] Cargo Air has ordered a 737-400SF conversion from Aeronautical Engineers Inc. ( AEI ) but is looking ahead to 737-800Fs, shifting forward their introduction to 2021. According to AEI, the aircraft (28882, ex-Go2Sky) is slated to be inducted for conversion into freighter configuration in mid-September at the Commercial Jet facility in Dothan, Ala. (DHN). This is Cargo Air’s only passenger aircraft and it has been stored in Leipzig (LEJ) since November 2019. The Bulgaria-based airline, which already operates three 737-300SFs and seven 737-400SFs all converted by AEI, told Cargo Facts unit 28882 will be ferried to DHN for pre-conversion maintenance in late August, and is expected to be ready for service in January 2021. Last year, Cargo Air said it had decided to keep unit 28882 in passenger configuration for ACMI leisure operations for “at least one more summer season” in 2020, due to high demand for passenger 737 frames while the MAX is grounded. That is clearly no longer the case given the pandemic, even if the MAX remains grounded. Cargo Air confirmed to Cargo Facts it will not be adding any further 737 Classic conversions and is instead turning its focus to the 737NG. The carrier has firm orders for two 737-800BCFs and two options, and now intends to acquire one or two -800s as feedstock by the end of this year or the beginning of 2021 — if they are affordable — and hand them over to Boeing for conversion by mid-2021. The pandemic has enabled Cargo Air to adjust its timeline for the 737-800BCFs, with hundreds of frames parked and feedstock prices no longer as high as they were a year ago. The carrier last year agreed with Boeing to postpone the two conversions due to higher than expected feedstock acquisition costs. Cargo Air’s freighters are flown on an ACMI basis on behalf of express operators such as DHL Express , UPS , ASL Airlines , Swiftair , West Atlantic and Poste Air Cargo.

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CARGO FACTS CONSULTING

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Number of MROs handling jet freighter conversions jumps to 25

Follow Us