NCA to resume NRT-ORD route after grounding

Nippon Cargo Airlines (NCA) is slowly taking steps to recover its freighter operations by resuming its Narita-to-Chicago service Sept. 28, just in time for peak season for trans-Pacific traffic. The Japan-based was dealt a tough blow earlier this year when the unexpected grounding of its fleet of eleven 747-Fs for reported safety violations.

The first of NCA’s 11 grounded aircraft resumed service between Narita International Airport (NRT) and Shanghai Pudong International Airport (PVG) in July, following the initial inspection in June that showed discrepancies in the airline’s maintenance records.

At present, the carrier operates one 747-400F and two 747-8Fs, to Hong Kong International Airport (HKG) and PVG. Two of the former and six of the latter aircraft are still undergoing maintenance at NRT and HKG, according to ch-aviation data.

Last month, the company released an improvement plan that centered around “revising the flight scale to match the size of the staff” and consolidating its fleet and maintenance operations to a single platform based on the 747-8F.

The airline said, “the rest of the aircraft operation will resume in sequence as soon as the aircraft safety is confirmed and the preparation for flight is completed.”