Mesa Airlines to expand freighter fleet with leased 737F

Phoenix-headquartered Mesa Airlines will grow its freighter operations with the arrival of a third 737-400SF, currently expected by May 2021. While the two freighters (27157 and 27674) Mesa has been operating on a CMI basis since last October and November, respectively, are owned by DHL Express, Mesa confirmed to Cargo Facts that the new addition will be leased from Canada-based KF Aerospace’s Regency Aero Lease affiliate, and that it expects the aircraft to be unit 24769 (ex-Flair Airlines). [caption id="attachment_415499" align="alignright" width="471"] KF Aerospace completed unit 24751 in Kelowna last year. (Photo/KF Aerospace)[/caption] Mesa also told Cargo Facts that it plans to use the newly converted 737-400SF as a spare for DHL to ensure reliability, but that it would be open to opportunities to utilize it more. Unit 24769 is currently in Kelowna (YLW), where KF Aerospace has been providing touch labor for the conversion of the aircraft to freighter configuration under the Aeronautical Engineers Inc. (AEI) STC since last year. AEI confirmed to Cargo Facts that it expects to complete unit 24769 by around mid-May. Acquiring its own freighter opens the door to Mesa becoming an ACMI provider, whether for DHL or otherwise. The airline said its plan is to continue looking for opportunities to grow its cargo business over time and will consider acquiring more 737 freighters. Mesa already provides both ACMI and CMI services for American Airlines and United Airlines with passenger aircraft, so extending that model to freighters would not be surprising. During an earnings call with analysts in February, Mesa CEO Jonathan Ornstein and CFO Mike Lotz both hinted at expanding the company’s recently established cargo operations . KF announced a conversion order with AEI for three ex-Flair 737-400s in April 2020, and added a fourth in September. The first 737-400SF (24751) was delivered on lease to Iceland-based Bluebird Nordic last November, while another frame (24573) is also nearing completion at YLW and the fourth (26280) will become the first 737-400SF conversion carried out at KF’s Hamilton (YHM) facility when touch labor is completed by around June 2021. Cargo Facts Asia, taking place April 20-21 as a virtual experience, is the event for exploring opportunity in the Asia-Pacific region. The event continues to bring together the best, brightest, and most innovative executives in the global air cargo industry. Learn more and register at www.cargofactsasia.com .

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Mesa Airlines to expand freighter fleet with leased 737F

Additional aircraft could pave the way for more ACMI and CMI opportunities

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Weekly Wrap: Macquarie and LATAM notch up new conversion orders

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CARGO FACTS CONSULTING

CFC: Amazon air network spend exceeds $1B per year as dedicated fleet grows

Japanese air exports up in December and January, imports down

Follow Us