DHL hands over third converted 767-300F to Kalitta

DHL Express has taken redelivery of a 767-300BDSF (27686, ex-Royal Air Maroc) and subsequently handed it over to U.S.-based Kalitta Air to be operated on a CMI basis [FATs 005264-005265].

The 767 was ferried to Mexico City (MEX) in March 2019 to be inducted for conversion into freighter configuration by Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) at the Mexicana MRO Services facility. After a test flight early in October, when it appeared to almost be ready for redelivery, the aircraft did not fly again until another test flight on Dec. 18. Whatever issue that may have caused the delay was clearly resolved, with the 767 finally making its way to Oscoda (OSC) via Willow Run (YIP) on Dec. 19.

This is the third 767 to be handed over by DHL to be operated by Kalitta, which also flies another 767-300BDSF (28040) and a 767-300BCF (27392) on a CMI basis for the German express integrator, as well as six other 767-300BDSFs on an ACMI basis.

Almost as soon as unit 27686 left the Mexicana facility, another aircraft took its place. A 767-300 (29227) previously operated by LATAM Airlines Argentina arrived at MEX in the early hours of Dec. 20 to be inducted for conversion into freighter configuration [FAT 005269]. It is unclear at this point who the eventual operator of this frame will be, although we note that its new registration is in line with the three 767-300BCFs LATAM Cargo ordered from Boeing and subsequently placed with LATAM Cargo Colombia.

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