Saudia Cargo modernizes its freighter fleet

Saudia Cargo returned its last 747-200F (24399) off ACMI lease to Veteran Avia.

Saudia still leases one 747-300F from Georgia-based AG Air, but Cargo Facts expects that that freighter, too, will be returned when its lease expires, as part of Saudia’s fleet modernization program.

Over the last five years, Saudia has retired or returned to the lessor one A310-300F, five 747‑200Fs, one 747-400F, and, as of late last month, its four MD-11Fs. This leaves the carrier with a twelve-unit freighter fleet made up of nine 747-400s (a mix of -400Fs, -400BCFs, and -400BDSFs) ACMI-leased from Air Atlanta Icelandic (6) and myCargo Airlines (3), two 747-8Fs of its own, and the single 747-300F. Cargo Facts believes that Saudia has four 777Fs on firm order (Boeing shows the customer as “Unidentified”), so the modernization will continue.