ASL grows its 737 Classic fleet

ASL Airlines Ireland has added a 737-400F (29204, ex-Yamal Airlines) on lease from Royal Aero GmbH [FAT 005319].  

The delivery highlights the willingness of ACMI operators to continue adding to their fleets 737 Classic conversions while feedstock for 737 NG conversions remains in short supply. Last week at Cargo Facts EMEA in Frankfurt, panelists in a roundtable discussion on the topic of freighter conversions blamed the grounded 737 MAX for the low availability of feedstock for NG conversions.  

The aircraft was converted by Aeronautical Engineers Inc. (AEI) and was inducted in early 2019. 

This is the third 737 Classic freighter ASL has added to its fleet in the past calendar year. In September 2019, ASL Airlines Ireland added a 737-400SF (25773, ex-Yamal Airlines) on lease from Vx Capital. This was followed closely by the addition of a 737-400SF (25180, ex-Futura) to the ASL Airlines France fleet, on lease from Vallair. 

In the long term, ASL Airlines is committed to the 737-800BCF and already operates two of the type. Last year the carrier placed a firm order for ten 737-800BCFs, with purchase rights for an additional ten, in a memorandum of understanding signed with Boeing at the Paris Air Show.