China Airlines to retain 747-400Fs for longer than expected

[caption id="attachment_414529" align="alignright" width="500"] China Airlines’ active freighter fleet consists of eighteen nose-loading 747-400Fs. (Photo: dnata)[/caption] Amid the continuing demand for freighter capacity, Taiwan-based China Airlines will keep three 747-400Fs it had been remarketing for longer than originally planned. China Airlines told Cargo Facts it is currently no longer offering the three aircraft (30759, 30763 and 30764) for sale or lease, after deciding in July to postpone their removal. The carrier had engaged Japan-based SK&Y Associates earlier this year to remarket the three 747s, with the expectation of operating them until the end of 2020. Given the slow restoration of belly capacity, it is not surprising to see China Airlines retaining any available main-deck capacity, especially since the airline has been able to capitalize on its large freighter fleet of eighteen 747-400Fs so effectively that cargo revenue in the second quarter increased by almost 116% compared to last year, resulting in an $84 million net profit. [wpdatachart id=4] China Airlines also confirmed to Cargo Facts that the six 777Fs it has on firm order with Boeing will be delivered between the end of 2020 and 2023. The carrier also has two 747-400Fs (30760 and 30761) in storage at Victorville (VCV) and leased another to ASL Airlines Belgium toward the end of 2019 . Apart from China Airlines’ two, twenty-year-old units, the only other production 747-400F that is parked is unit 26401 (ex-Grandstar Cargo), which has been in Beijing (PEK) since late 2011. Two ex- AirBridgeCargo units were recently reactivated , while another -400F previously flown by Cargolux (29731) and stored in Luxembourg (LUX) since June made its way to Taipei (TPE) on Sept. 1. The carrier confirmed the aircraft, from which the Cargolux titles have been removed, will undergo scheduled maintenance at TPE, but did not comment on whether it is due to be transferred to another operator. The significance of cargo to China Airlines has always been fairly high compared to other major combination carriers, and accounted for around a third of the company’s transport revenue in 2019 . With a sizeable freighter fleet, China Airlines said it is not considering supplementing that capacity by reconfiguring any passenger aircraft, even as it continues to operate many of its A330-300s, A350-900s and 777-300ERs on cargo-only missions. While Cargo Facts Symposium 2020 will be presented as a virtual event, the unparalleled networking and continuing education opportunities remain, with the best and brightest minds addressing the most pressing industry issues for air cargo — including those around COVID-19. To register and for more information, visit www.cargofactssymposium.com .

China Airlines to retain 747-400Fs for longer than expected

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China Airlines to retain 747-400Fs for longer than expected

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