Four new carriers launch freighter ops in H1 2025

The first half of 2025 welcomed at least four new carriers to the jet freighter segment. The emergence of new operators during a time when geopolitical events, capacity and material shortages are reshaping the industry shows that demand for dedicated maindeck capacity remains, particularly in the narrowbody sector, where three new entrants received certification. Cargo Facts reported on these four operators receiving their AOCs and beginning to fly their freighters this year through June: 1. 7Air Miami-based 7Air added its third 737-800SF (33597, ex-SpiceJet) freighter in June after receiving Part 121 approval from the FAA in February. The startup launched operations with an ex-SpiceJet sistership (34799) in April. [caption id="attachment_57290483" align="alignright" width="1513"] 7Air has leased both 737-800SFs and -800BCFs. (Courtesy/7Air Cargo)[/caption] 7Air’s first 737-800BCF (33471, ex-Shanghai Airlines), on lease from Spectre Air Capital since March, entered service on June 19. The new carrier is concentrating on providing air cargo service to Central and South America with routes including: San Juan, Puerto Rico (SJU), to Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic (SDQ); Lima, Peru (LIM), to Miami (MIA); and Havana (HAV) to MIA. 2. Braspress Air Cargo Sao Paulo, Brazil-based Braspress Air Cargo, a subsidiary of Brazilian logistics company Braspress Transportes Urgentes, received certification from the Brazilian Civil Aviation Authority on April 22, according to the agency’s registry. [caption id="attachment_57290485" align="alignright" width="1400"] The two Braspress freighters arrived in Brazil in 2024. (Courtesy/World Star Aviation)[/caption] The narrowbody-freighter operator leased a 1998-vintage 737-400BDSF (29207, ex-ASL Airlines) from World Star Aviation in February 2024 and a second ex-ASL Airlines 737-400BDSF (29206) from the lessor that June. Unit 29207 commenced regular service on March 24 while unit 29206 entered service on May 27. 3. Maersk Air Cargo UK Danish shipping and logistics group A.P. Moller-Maersk subsidiary Maersk Air Cargo UK received its AOC from the United Kingdom’s Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) on Feb. 16, becoming the only carrier in the United Kingdom to operate 767-200 freighters. Maersk registered a 1994-vintage 767-200BDSF (27195) with the CAA in January and a 1989-vintage 767-200BDSF (24457) in February. Unit 27195 entered service on March 19, flying from Edinburgh (EDI) to Shannon (SNN), while unit 24457 began operating the next day, completing a flight from EDI to East Midlands (EMA). The company had transferred both freighters from its Danish AOC. Maersk, which is the largest operator of 767-200BDSFs, with nine CF6-powered units across the two fleets, operates them on an ACMI basis for UPS. Maersk remains committed to 767-200Fs and plans to operate them as long as it can because the medium-widebody freighters continue to serve a purpose, Lars Jordahn, global head of Maersk Air Cargo, said during a fireside chat at Cargo Facts EMEA in Istanbul on May 7. 4. SolitAir United Arab Emirates-based SolitAir obtained its AOC on March 26. As part of plans to expand its fleet to up to twelve freighters by the end of 2025 , SolitAir has entered into lease deals for four 737-800 freighters from three lessors. [caption id="attachment_57290484" align="alignright" width="1507"] SolitAir plans to grow to a double-digit fleet this year. (Courtesy/BBAM)[/caption] BBAM became the third lessor to place a 737-800F with SolitAir and delivered a 2004-vintage 737-800BCF (33567, ex-Budget Lines) to the new carrier in June. SolitAir also reached a deal with World Star Aviation in June for two 2004-vintage 737-800BDSFs (34014 and 33997). Meanwhile, the startup dry-leased a 737-800BCF (33023) from ASL Aviation Holdings in March after ASL began operating unit 33023 in October 2024 for SolitAir on an ACMI basis . The Ireland-based group has since deployed three more 737-800BCFs (32686, 30879 and 34251) to the region in support of SolitAir. Cargo Facts Symposium, the quintessential event for stakeholders and key leaders in the global freighter and air cargo industries, will take place Oct. 22-24 at the Grand Hyatt in Nashville . Learn more and register today to take advantage of the early-bird rate.

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