Malaysia-based World Cargo Airlines (WCA) will soon become the first converted 737NG operator in Southeast Asia.
The carrier, which recently took delivery of its first 737-800BCF (29052, ex-Aeromexico), confirmed to Cargo Facts that it is leasing the aircraft from BBAM and it expects to begin service with it by the end of January, after regulatory approval.
Unit 29052 is the first 737-800 converted by Guangzhou Aircraft Maintenance Engineering Company Ltd. (GAMECO) and was completed in October 2020. It was ferried from Guangzhou (CAN) to Kuala Lumpur (SZB) on Christmas Day and will be painted at the Asia AeroTechnic MRO facility there.
The 737-800BCF will feature a new livery, different from the one currently on WCA’s single 737-400F (25099, ex-Alaska Airlines). That aircraft — owned by the company itself — began operation last summer and shows the logo of national postal group Pos Malaysia, for which the airline flies a domestic network.
With the new 737-800BCF, WCA plans to extend its network to Hong Kong and mainland China.
The carrier said it expects to have added two more aircraft by the end of February, but did not say whether they will similarly be leased 737-800BCFs.
WCA, formerly Pos Asia Cargo Express, was rebranded in August 2020, when Pos Malaysia divested a 51% stake in the airline to Asia Cargo Network.
Asia Cargo Network is also the parent of Indonesia-based Tri-M.G. Intra Asia Airlines, which added a fourth 737-300F (28401, ex-Southwest Airlines) in September 2020, on lease from Rostrum Leasing.
March 2021 will see Southeast Asia’s next 737-800BCF operator: Thailand-based K-Mile Air, which expects to start flying an aircraft on an ACMI basis for DHL Express.
