Parked 747 fleet wanes as National brings three out of storage

[caption id="attachment_414653" align="alignright" width="490"] Unit 26547 is the first of three 747-400BCFs National reactivated and has now been repainted in a modified livery. (Photo: National Airlines)[/caption] Florida-headquartered National Airlines will grow its in-service 747 freighter fleet to five aircraft by the end of November with the reactivation of three -400BCFs. The three ex-Cathay Pacific aircraft, parked in Marana (MZJ) since 2013 and acquired by National in May 2019, were brought out of long-term storage in quick succession and taken to the VT San Antonio Aerospace facility in San Antonio (SAT) for heavy maintenance ahead of entry into service, starting with unit 26547 on July 27 , followed by 27217 on Aug. 19, and 25068 on Sept. 25. National told Cargo Facts it expects unit 26547 to perform its first revenue flight Oct. 3, while 27217 will enter into service later in October and 25068 in November. The carrier, which already operates two ex-Air France 747-400BCFs (25301 and 25238), said the current objective is to maintain the fleet at about five 747Fs and to maximize utilization, depending on demand. The reactivation of National’s three aircraft further diminishes the number of 747 freighters currently in storage. In August, the two 747-400Fs (36784 and 36785) returned off lease by Russia-based AirBridgeCargo and stored in Teruel, Spain, (TEV) since May, were ferried to Frankfurt-Hahn (HHN) and will soon be operated by ASL Airlines Belgium as part of a new partnership with Nippon Cargo Airlines ( NCA ). On Sept. 11, one of the two 747-400BDSFs (25075) previously in service with Slovakia-based Air Cargo Global and parked in Liege (LGG) since late 2019 was brought to HHN by Moldova-based Aerotranscargo to be prepared for reentry into service . Aerotranscargo told Cargo Facts it also owns the other 747 (24998) and will soon be ferrying that aircraft out of LGG for a C-check. Meanwhile, a third ex-Air Cargo Global 747-400BDSF (24311), previously stranded in Karaganda, Kazakhstan, (KGF) from mid-December until June 13, had been repossessed by U.A.E.-based Aquiline International and was destined for another owner, but Aquiline confirmed to Cargo Facts it still owns the aircraft and will soon lease it to Belarus-based Rubystar Airways after maintenance in Sharjah (SHJ). Taking the above into account, Cargo Facts estimates that the 747Fs that remain parked, but could feasibly be reactivated, are as follows: Two Saudia Cargo 747-8Fs (37562 and 37563), both of which have been parked in Jeddah (JED) since January 2020; A Cargolux 747-400F (29731), parked in Luxembourg (LUX) with its titles removed since late June and ferried to Taipei (TPE) for maintenance Sept. 1; An Atlas Air 747-400BDSF (27062), parked at MZJ in December 2019; A Cathay Pacific 747-400BCF (25152), retired and ferried to MZJ at the end of September 2019; Unit 24458, an ex-Thai Cargo aircraft Aerotranscargo had previously told Cargo Facts would be dry-leased to Moldova-based Terra Avia to operate later this year; An Asiana Airlines 747-400BDSF (25452), parked in Victorville (VCV) since 2017; and Two China Airlines 747-400Fs (30760 and 30761), parked at VCV since 2012. We note that the Taiwan-based carrier had recently told Cargo Facts it will keep three 747-400Fs it had been remarketing for longer than originally planned. 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 .

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