11 passenger carriers that became freighter operators in 2022

This year, the industry continued to capitalize on the momentum in 2021 that saw more operators entering the freighter segment. While some were cargo startups and new operators entirely, many others were established airlines with passenger operations that had either never operated dedicated cargo aircraft or paused freighter operations for years. Here are the eleven passenger airlines that began flying freighter aircraft this year — either for the first time in their history or after an extended leave of absence. 1. MIAT Mongolian Airlines Mongolia-based MIAT may not have a large fleet, but the airline added a 757-200PCF to its roster this summer when it took delivery of the 1992-vintage unit 25397 (ex-ASL Airlines) on lease from Aquila Air Capital. The freighter had been parked in storage since March and joined MIAT’s single 767-300ER and four 737s. 2. IndiGo After announcing last year that it had decided to introduce freighters to its business, India-based IndiGo took delivery of a 2007-vintage A321-200P2F (3267, ex-Avion Express) on lease from Castlelake in late September and started revenue service with it in November. A second A321-200P2F (3334, ex-Avion Express) owned by Castlelake arrived in Delhi (DEL) this month after conversion in Singapore (XSP) and will soon join the carrier’s active fleet. IndiGo previously told Cargo Facts that it intends to take up to two more A321P2Fs as part of its growth strategy. [caption id="attachment_56860993" align="alignright" width="450"] SalamAir now has one A321P2F. (Photo/SalamAir)[/caption] 3. SalamAir Oman-based SalamAir is a relatively new airline with an all-Airbus fleet. The carrier’s first A321-200P2F (1994, ex-Eurowings), which arrived in Muscat (MCT) in August after conversion in Guangzhou (CAN), is on lease from BBAM. SalamAir started commercial operations with the 2003-vintage unit 1994 in October, flying it mostly to Dubai (DWC), Khartoum (KRT) and Dhaka (DAC). 4. Copa Airlines Panama-based Copa operated a freighter of its own for the first time in around twenty years when it commenced commercial flights with its first 737-800BCF. The 2003-vintage unit 33709, previously the oldest passenger aircraft in Copa’s 737-only fleet, completed conversion last year and arrived back in Panama in December 2021 and is now operated by wholly owned low-cost subsidiary Wingo. 5. Chrono Aviation Chrono became the first Canada-based airline to operate a 737NG freighter early this year. The company leased its first 737-800SF (32799, ex-Miami Air International) from KF Aerospace after it was converted at KF’s facility in Kelowna (YLW). Chrono additionally purchased a 737-800 (30478, ex-Aerolineas Argentinas) in 2021 and ferried it to YLW in June this year for conversion. 6. Jeju Air Jeju Air removed a 737-800 from its passenger fleet toward the end of last year and sent it to Jinan (TNA). The 2006-vintage aircraft (30694), on lease from Aviator Capital Management, would later return to the carrier in June after conversion with Boeing. Jeju Air, which now flies the 737-800BCF to China, Japan and Vietnam, is the fourth freighter operator in South Korea. [caption id="attachment_56860994" align="alignright" width="450"] AirExplore flies its 737-800BCF for RDS. (Photo/RDS Cargo Group)[/caption] 7. AirExplore In May, Cargo Facts reported that U.A.E.-based RDS Cargo Group planned to charter a 737-800BCF from Slovakia-based carrier AirExplore. The airline, which specializes in ACMI and charter operations using passenger 737-800s, leased the 2003-vintage aircraft from BBAM in August and may be considering adding more. 8. Shandong Airlines China-based Shandong Airlines experimented with cargo operations in 2020 by removing seats from a couple of its 737-800s but this year took that one step further by sending the 2005-vintage unit 33660 for full-freighter conversion with Boeing at TNA. With more than 100 737s in its fleet, it would not be surprising if Shandong Airlines opted to convert more -800s into freighters. 9. GOL Latin American e-commerce giant Mercado Libre added Brazil-based GOL Linhas Aereas as a new partner carrier this year as part of an ACMI deal. The airline’s first two 737-800BCFs (34965 and 34279) now fly domestically wearing the full yellow livery of Mercado Libre and will be joined by four more on lease from AerCap. [caption id="attachment_56860995" align="alignright" width="450"] RwandAir leased its 737-800SF from Merx Aviation. (Photo/RwandAir)[/caption] 10. RwandAir There are fewer than ten 737-800 freighters in Africa, but the region recently added one more when Rwanda-based RwandAir took delivery of the 2007-vintage unit 35131 (ex-TUI Airways) on lease from Merx Aviation. The airline also operates four passenger 737-800s, among other types. 11. Amelia International Early this year, an ATR 72-212F (461) that had stopped service with ASL Airlines Ireland in 2021 made its way to Slovenia, where Amelia International is based. The airline, which is part of the France-based Amelia group and operates a predominantly regional passenger fleet, has leased the freighter from TrueNoord for four years. In 2023, Cargo Facts expects to see at least several other airlines that currently only operate passenger aircraft start flying freighters, including Global Crossing Airlines , WestJet , AirAsia and Turkmenistan Airlines . Cargo Facts EMEA, the essential event for stakeholders in Europe, the Middle East and Africa, will take place live Feb. 6-8 in Dubai. Register today.

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