First time’s a charm for 15 new 737F operators in 2023

Next-generation and classic 737 freighters continue to command the interest of operators globally, with fifteen starting to fly them in 2023 for the first time or after at least ten years away from the freighter market. Even as older 737 Classics near retirement, many carriers still prefer the type, and it is a staple in the narrowbody freighter segment based on its proven record and affordability. The aircraft continues to serve short- to medium-haul markets in the Americas, Southeast Asia, Europe and Africa. Here are the fifteen carriers that have placed into service their first 737 freighters in 2023, listed in alphabetical order. 1. Aerolineas Argentinas [caption id="attachment_56866540" align="alignright" width="360"] Aerolineas Argentinas added two 737-800SFs in 2023.(Courtesy/Aerolineas Argentinas)[/caption] The South American flag carrier announced plans at the end of 2022 to relaunch dedicated freighter operations , becoming the first carrier in the region to begin service with an AEI-converted 737-800SF. Aerolineas Argentinas removed the 2001-vintage unit 30570 from passenger service in April 2022 and ferried it to AEI’s conversion line in Dothan, Ala. (DHN). Unit 30570, which is on lease from Macquarie AirFinance, arrived in Buenos Aires (EZE) in February, while its sistership (30571) followed in May . 2. Air Eagle [caption id="attachment_56866548" align="alignright" width="360"] Unit 25263 previously flew with Bluebird Nordic. (Courtesy/Air Eagle)[/caption] The Pakistan-based startup entered the air cargo sector this year with a 737-300BDSF (25263) it acquired from Iceland-based BBN Airlines Nordic’s parent, Avia Solutions Group. The 1992-vintage aircraft flew with BBN until July 2022. It arrived in Karachi (KHI) in April and entered service in August. 3. AlphaSky The new Kazakhstan-based airline made its entrance into the Central Asian air cargo sector this summer, becoming the sole air cargo carrier in the country . AlphaSky in July took delivery of a 1992-vintage 737-400F (25102, ex-Alaska Airlines) on dry lease from United Arab Emirates-based Sky One and operated its inaugural flight in December. 4. ASL Airlines UK Ireland-based ASL Aviation Holdings strengthened the lift capacity of its United Kingdom subsidiary in the second quarter and placed the first 737-800BCF on that AOC. The 2008-vintage unit 35701 was registered in the U.K. on May 10 and began its first revenue flight on June 21. 5. BBN Airlines Indonesia One of the newest entrants in the Southeast Asian region took delivery of its first 737-800BCF in June from its parent, BBN Cargo Airlines Holdings. The startup began its certification process with the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) in September 2022 and obtained AOC approval on Aug. 31. 6. Budget Lines [caption id="attachment_56865313" align="alignright" width="360"] Budget Lines added its second 737-800BCF in August. (Courtesy/Budget Lines)[/caption] Thailand’s second 737-800F operator took delivery of its first 737-800BCF on lease from BBAM in April and began operations after getting its AOC in September. The carrier took delivery of a second 737-800BCF from BBAM in August. 7. Buffalo Airways Buffalo acquired its first jet aircraft, a 737-300BDSF, in 2022. The aircraft had been in storage in the U.K. since 2017. After completing heavy maintenance and a few modifications on the 737, Buffalo launched commercial service between Edmonton (YEG) and Yellowknife (YZF) in September. 8. EgyptAir The African carrier took redelivery of its first 737-800SF in February, making it the first narrowbody freighter to join its dedicated cargo fleet, which previously consisted of three A330-200P2Fs. 9. Express Cargo Airlines Express Cargo Airlines joined the growing list of newly formed Indonesian narrowbody cargo operators in August when it began operations with its PEMCO-converted 737-300F (24789, ex-Africa Charter Airline). Unit 24789 arrived in June to complete the new carrier's certification process with the DGCA. 10. Oman Air [caption id="attachment_56866539" align="alignright" width="360"] Oman Air took redelivery of its first 737-800BCF in November. (Courtesy/GMR Hyderabad International Airport Ltd.)[/caption] Oman Air launched its dedicated freighter fleet this month when it began operations with its first 737-800BCF (35108), which flew from Muscat (MCT) to Hyderabad (HYD). Unit 35108 flew in passenger service for Oman Air before arriving at the STAECO facility in Jinan (TNA) in July to undergo conversion with Boeing. The carrier took redelivery of the unit 35108 in November. 11. Raindo United Services The startup became the third Indonesian 737-800 freighter operator in August, joining newly formed BBN Airlines Indonesia and Express Cargo, which also obtained their AOCs that month. Raindo leased two units (32685, ex-Neos, and 32690, ex-AnadoluJet) from AerCap and they arrived in July and August, respectively. 12. Sky High The Dominican Republic-based carrier made a classic move into the narrowbody freighter segment in January when it took delivery of a 737-300F on lease from Miami-based Xtreme Group Holdings. Xtreme told Cargo Facts at Cargo Facts LATAM 2023 that it would lease a second 737-300F (24023) to Sky High, but that aircraft has ended up with Colombia-based Aerosucre . 13. TAAG Angola Airlines [caption id="attachment_56866541" align="alignright" width="360"] TAAG is the third African carrier with 737-800BCFs. (Courtesy/TAAG)[/caption] TAAG in September became the eighth African carrier to take delivery of a 737-800 freighter (33552, ex-Ryanair) on lease from BBAM . The freighter carried out its first commercial flight on Dec. 19, making TAAG the continent’s third 737-800BCF operator. 14. Texel Air Australasia The New Zealand-based startup, a subsidiary of Bahrain-based Chisholm Enterprises, added its first 737-800BCF in May and began operations with the 2001-vintage unit 29985 (ex-Korean Air) in June. Chisholm Enterprises told Cargo Facts that the carrier, which recently took delivery of its third 737-800BCF , expects to grow its fleet to up to ten 737-800BCFs in the next couple of years. 15. WestJet The Canadian airline first announced in 2021 that it would enter the freighter segment and add four 737-800BCFs. Three units arrived on lease from BBAM in 2022, but it was not until this April that WestJet started commercial operations after a certification delay . The fourth 737-800BCF for WestJet completed conversion in August . Other upcoming operators Additionally, Cargo Facts has reported on three carriers that have received their first Boeing narrowbody freighters this year but have yet to begin flying them in commercial service. These include: Slovenia-based Camex Adria Airlines , a new subsidiary of Georgia-based Camex Airlines, which has leased a 2004-vintage 737-800BCF (33973, ex-FlyEgypt) from Icelease and obtained its AOC in December ; Georgia-based Gryphon Air , which has leased a 737-300F (29326, ex-Suparna Airlines) from World Star Aviation; and Armenia-based Hayways , which bought a 737-400SF (28758, ex-Atran) but is not yet certified. Cargo Facts EMEA 2024, the essential event for stakeholders in Europe, the Middle East and Africa, will take place Feb. 5-7 in Amsterdam. Learn more and register now .

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