Air Incheon looks at A330s for growth

Air Incheon is looking to reenter the widebody market and add the A330 platform to its fleet for the launch of long-haul operations.

The South Korea-based carrier told Cargo Facts that it has been planning the next stage of its fleet development for the last two years and it believes there will be room in the market after the full combination of Korean Air and Asiana Airlines, which currently have a total of thirty-five widebody freighters between them.

The A330 is the most suitable option, allowing Air Incheon to fly to North America and connect with its 737-800SFs serving destinations within a range of up to four or five hours of flight time, particularly China and Vietnam, according to the carrier. 

Air Incheon told Cargo Facts that it would be happy with either the A330-200 or the A330-300 but said that the extra capacity of the -300 may be preferable. The carrier did not specify which conversion house it would select but added that it was in conversations with a few A330 lessors to secure a delivery as soon as possible and may lease up to five units. 

The planned A330s will not be the first widebodies for Air Incheon, which currently operates three 737-800SFs but previously operated a 767-300BDSF that it returned off lease to Air Transport Services Group (ATSG) in 2019. 

Looking ahead 

Air Incheon’s widebody aspirations will make it the latest in a string of A330P2F additions for the Asia-Pacific region. 

The carrier also told Cargo Facts that it expects to lease an additional 737-800SF imminently and confirmed that it will be unit 32361 (ex-SunExpress) from Macquarie AirFinance. The 2002-vintage 737 arrived in Dothan (DHN) in late February after conversion with Aeronautical Engineers Inc. (AEI) in Miami (MIA).

Air Incheon said that it may choose to add a fifth 737-800F in the future.

Air Incheon’s current three 737-800SFs include two 1999- and 2000-vintage units (29917, ex-AnadoluJet, and 30501, ex-Shenzhen Airlines) on lease from BlackRock and a 2000-vintage unit (28535, ex-Corendon Airlines) on lease from Vx Capital. 

Recent entries 

Recent months have seen growing operator and lessor confidence in freighter-converted A330s.

In early March, Baltic carrier SmartLynx announced its entry into the widebody freighter market with the addition of six A330-300P2Fs that it plans to lease from Cargo Aircraft Management (CAM), with inductions beginning in mid-2023.

Earlier in February, CAM brought its order book with Elbe Flugzeugwerke (EFW) to twenty-nine A330P2Fs with a deal for nine more A330P2F slots. 

Turkey-based MNG Airlines recently told Cargo Facts that it plans to convert a third A330-300 in 2024 along with a fourth in 2025, after sending its second unit for conversion early in February.  

Meanwhile, Avolon committed to thirty slots with Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) to launch the A330-300BDSF program. 

Cargo Facts EMEA will take place LIVE May 9-11 in Dubai. Learn more and register.