Air Wisconsin ventures into freighters with CRJ200SF

U.S.-based regional carrier Air Wisconsin has added its first freighter, a CRJ200SF (7417, ex-ExpressJet Airlines) converted to freighter configuration by Aeronautical Engineers Inc. (AEI), and will soon offer the aircraft for charters and long-term wet leases. Air Wisconsin told Cargo Facts that, even though it historically has only carried a small amount of belly freight and mail on its all-CRJ passenger fleet, it has seen a shortage of cargo capacity throughout the past year and a half. The company decided earlier this summer to move forward and diversify into the freighter market, based on the availability of aircraft and the carrier’s own extensive experience with the CRJ200. [caption id="attachment_416520" align="alignright" width="560"] Unit 7417 is an AEI conversion and is the only aircraft in Air Wisconsin’s own livery. (Photo/Air Wisconsin)[/caption] Air Wisconsin is the latest in a string of passenger ACMI carriers to test the waters in freighter operations. The airline currently operates its CRJ200s exclusively on behalf of United Express. That will change when unit 7417 goes into service, expected around peak season later this year. Unlike Air Wisconsin’s sixty-four owned CRJ200s, the 2000-vintage freighter is on lease from Regional One, the carrier said [FAT 006578]. The aircraft has been in Roswell (ROW) since late March 2021 but had previously been stored in Tucson (TUS). Air Wisconsin told Cargo Facts that it will begin with just a single freighter for now, but ultimately flying just one unit “does not make sense.” With the AEI conversion featuring a large cargo door, Air Wisconsin intends to offer the CRJ200SF for ACMI services or ad hoc charters with integrators and other logistics companies, including players in the automotive segment, for example. Other carriers with CRJ200SFs include Aeronaves TSM, which has ordered ten conversions with AEI, and the IFL Group, which operates four. Air Wisconsin said it does not foresee any challenges with the CRJ200’s General Electric CF34 engines and has “an enormous amount of greentime,” given the carrier’s scale and infrastructure. Air Wisconsin said it is not currently looking at any other freighter types. Robert Binns, who was appointed to the role of president and CEO of Air Wisconsin in 2019, is no stranger to freighter operations. He was previously CEO of Global Aviation Holdings, which owned World Airways, a carrier that operated large widebody freighters including 747-400BCFs and MD-11Fs through 2014, when the carrier ceased operations. Arizona-based Mesa Airlines, which operates regional passenger services for American Eagle and United Express with CRJ900s and E175s, forayed into cargo last year by taking on two DHL 737-400SFs . The carrier is also leasing another 737-400SF of its own. Cargo Facts Symposium, taking place LIVE October 25-27 at the Wynn Las Vegas, is the essential event for stakeholders in the air cargo industry. Learn more and register at www.cargofactssymposium.com .

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