DHL continues 767 growth despite A330 backlog

[caption id="attachment_414270" align="alignright" width="460"] DHL Express has a number of different 767 variants, both owned and ACMI-leased, being flown by a range of operators. (Photo: DHL)[/caption] DHL Express will grow its freighter fleet with the addition of four Boeing-converted 767-300BCFs, the two companies announced today in conjunction with the virtual presentation of the Farnborough International Airshow. [ FATs 005511-005514 ]. DHL continues to order 767 conversions although it still has a firm order for four more EFW-converted A330-300P2Fs, widely seen as the long-term successor to freighter-converted 767s. Sources familiar with medium-widebody conversions tell Cargo Facts that incremental 767-300 conversion orders from DHL do not necessitate issues with the A330P2Fs, particularly given the possibility of acquiring younger vintage 767 feedstock retired by COVID-19. DHL declined to provide much further information on the outstanding A330-300s, saying only that the decision “depends on future business development and supply of future aircraft for conversion.” To that end, the company brought its seventh A330-300 (1107, ex-Hong Kong Airlines) to the EFW facility in Dresden (DRS) on July 22, to be inducted for conversion [FAT 005515]. DHL plans to induct the first 767-300ER included in the new order in the fourth quarter of this year, with all four freighters expected to be redelivered by the end of 2021, the express integrator confirmed to Cargo Facts. The aircraft are “soon to be acquired” and MSNs are not yet linked to particular conversion slots, the carrier said. Assuming Boeing doesn’t open additional 767 conversion lines, the aircraft will be converted at the SASCO facility in Singapore (QPG), currently the only facility that converts 767-300s for Boeing. A 767-300ER (30847, ex-Titan Airways) was recently inducted for conversion in early July and will be redelivered to SF Airlines . DHL recently placed orders for three 767-300BDSF conversions with Israel Aerospace Industries ( IAI ), along with one option. The first aircraft under that order (33087, ex-American Airlines) was ferried to Mexico City (MEX) on July 1 to be inducted for conversion at the Mexicana MRO facility. The last time DHL received a 767-300BCF was in October 2019. That aircraft (28042, ex-Air Italy) was sent to Panama to be operated by DHL Aero Expreso. DHL previously told Cargo Facts it may base more 767-300Fs at its hub in Panama. Another 767-300BCF (27392) is operated by U.S.-based Kalitta Air on a CMI basis for DHL. By contrast, DHL last took redelivery of a 767-300BDSF (27686, ex-Royal Air Maroc) at the end of 2019. That aircraft was also handed over to Kalitta Air for CMI operation. Overall, the DHL 767 fleet is varied, with six 767-200BDSFs operated by its Bahrain-based subsidiary, three 767-300Fs with U.K.-based DHL Air, one 767-300F with Australia-based Tasman Cargo Airlines, as well as other 767s flown by ACMI operators such as Atlas Air , ABX Air , Kalitta Air and, most recently, 21 Air . As for the A330-300, DHL was the launch customer of EFW’s conversion program, ordering four in both 2016 and 2017, with options for ten more conversions. Four aircraft have been redelivered to date. Apart from 767Fs and A330Fs, DHL very recently took delivery of its eighth 777F (66086), to be operated by AeroLogic . Two more 777Fs are expected this year, and four more in 2021, but it is currently unclear which carrier will be operating them. Earlier this year, DHL also took redelivery of the first two 737-800BDSFs , now operated by iAero Airways .

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