Ten airlines added the first Airbus and Boeing widebody jet freighters to their operational fleets in 2023.
These carriers are based in Africa, Asia, Europe and North America, with five taking on medium-widebody freighters and five adding large widebodies. Five of the ten carriers added production widebody freighters, while the other five grew with conversions.
Here are the ten operators that started flying Airbus and Boeing widebody freighters for the first time in 2023, listed in alphabetical order.
1. Air Central
When China Southern Airlines removed its two 747-400Fs from its fleet in late 2020, there was hardly any doubt that the production freighters would find a new home.
The pair of 747s stayed in China, with Air Central becoming their new owner. While one joined SF Airlines on lease, Air Central began flying the other in April.
Air Central’s other freighters include 737-800s and Classics.
2. Air Tanzania
Air Tanzania in June took delivery of the first production 767-300F in Africa after announcing an order for it at the Dubai Airshow 2021.
The airline is one of Boeing’s few customers in recent years for the type other than FedEx and UPS and joins a handful of 767 conversion operators in Africa.
3. China Postal Airlines
China gained a fifth 777F operator this year with China Postal Airlines taking delivery of two new units. This also marked the entry into the widebody market for the carrier, which previously only had 757 and 737 freighters.
China Postal Airlines is operating the two 777Fs, mostly on domestic routes along with flights to Japan.
4. Compass Air Cargo
Bulgaria-based Compass Air Cargo took its first aircraft, a 737-800SF, in 2021 and has grown its fleet to four of the type. This summer, the airline welcomed a production 747-400F in Sofia (SOF) — the first to enter the country’s registry.
The 747-400F previously flew with Turkey-based ACT Airlines, with which Compass Air Cargo shares common ownership.
Compass told Cargo Facts it may add more 747s.
5. DHL Air Austria
DHL’s newest airline started in 2021 with just 757-200PCFs but in early 2023 began recruiting 767 pilots as part of its expansion into widebodies.
The express integrator transferred the first 767-300BDSF to DHL Air Austria in October. The airline has since added another and expects to have four by around the second quarter of 2024, it told Cargo Facts.
6. Georgian Airlines
CAM added Georgian Airlines as a new lessee this year and delivered a 1995-vintage 767-300BDSF (25585, ex-Air Canada) to the airline in August.
Georgian Airlines also operates three 737-800Fs and could take a second 767 from CAM in 2024.
7. Hawaiian Airlines
Unlike the other carriers on this list, Hawaiian is the only one operating a widebody freighter on a CMI basis for another company.
The other company is Amazon, which has turned to A330-300P2Fs to replace some of its older 767-200BDSFs and signed a deal to lease ten from Altavair.
The first unit (1902) began flying with Hawaiian in October. The 2018-vintage aircraft had never been in passenger service before conversion and is the youngest A330P2F conversion.
8. My Freighter
In late 2022, a production 747-200F that had been in storage in Jakarta (CGK) for almost ten years made its way to Tashkent (TAS). Uzbekistan-based My Freighter, a new airline, had acquired it as the first step of ambitious growth plans. The 1985-vintage aircraft did not enter service until this year.
My Freighter has gone on to lease its first 767-300BCF and may add another in 2024.
9. One Air
The United Kingdom regained a 747 freighter operator this year after One Air obtained its AOC in April.
The new airline began flying a 1991-vintage 747-400BDSF (25075) in the summer and in November added another 1991-vintage unit (24988). Both are on lease from Aerotranscargo.
10. Turkmenistan Airlines
In 2021, Airbus announced a deal with Turkmenistan Airlines that included two A330-200P2F conversions.
The two freighters entered service with the airline this year after completing conversion with EFW in Dresden (DRS), and are the first Airbus aircraft to be based in Turkmenistan.
Notable mention: Capital Airlines
HNA Group’s Capital Airlines has never operated freighters, but that will soon change with the delivery of an A330-300P2F.
The 2008-vintage, Trent 700-powered aircraft (908, ex-SmartLynx) was EFW’s first conversion at the Mobile Aerospace Engineering facility in Mobile, Ala. (BFM), and landed in Beijing (PEK) on Nov. 23.
Capital Airlines is not part of the list because it has not started flying unit 908 yet but, when it does, it will likely be mainland China’s second A330-300P2F operator after Sichuan Airlines.
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