Sun Country Air to operate ten 737-800BCFs for Amazon

[caption id="attachment_357939" align="alignright" width="466"] Beginning next year, Sun Country Air will begin operating 737-800BCFs for Amazon.[/caption] Minneapolis-based low-cost carrier Sun Country Air has agreed to operate ten 737-800BCFs on a CMI-basis for Amazon for a period of six years. The carrier will become Amazon’s third ACMI operator in the United States after Air Transport Services Group and Atlas Air Worldwide Holdings. Amazon will lease all ten 737-800BCFs from GECAS, and transfer them to Sun Country’s Air Operator’s Certificate (AOC) for operation on a CMI-basis in a deal mirroring one reached with Atlas in March , Amazon confirmed to Cargo Facts . The first Sun Country Air-operated freighter is expected to join the fleet next April. Although Sun Country has never operated freighters, the carrier is no stranger to the 737-800 platform and currently operates a passenger fleet comprised of twenty-three of the airframe type. Jude Bricker, CEO, Sun Country Air, told the Star Tribune that his company had originally tried to market its aircraft to Amazon, and the company rebuffed the offer with a proposal to operate aircraft on its behalf. Sun Country stands to quickly transition from a carrier without an interest in cargo, to a relatively significant player in the market. "Sun Country generated about 0.6% of its revenue from cargo last year," said Frederic Horst, managing director, Cargo Facts Consulting . "This operation makes them a big player in the cargo business and creates potential opportunities for additional Amazon cargo volumes on their passenger flights as well, particularly out of MSP and PDX." Amazon is committed to leasing at least twenty 737-800BCF freighters from GECAS by 2021 , the lessor announced in June. The e-commerce giant is, however, believed to have additional options with GECAS for more conversions, beyond the 20 units. To date, CMI contracts have only been awarded for 15 of the twenty 737-800BCFs. In addition to Sun Country’s ten units, Southern Air is committed to operating five 737-800BCFs by year-end. Just how large will the fleet get? Apart from the narrowbody freighter operation, Atlas Air leases to Amazon and operates seventeen 767-300Fs, and ATSG affiliate carriers are contracted to operate 32 767Fs for Amazon by the end of next year under a similar dry lease + CMI arrangement. Excluding options or any additional lease or CMI commitments, Amazon Air’s fleet is expected to grow to 64 units by 2021. Including options, the Amazon Air fleet could grow to 96 units by 2021. Amazon currently has options with ATSG to lease up to 17 more freighters by 2021 , and options with Atlas for the CMI operation of fifteen 737-800CFs . Nearing 100 units by 2021 wouldn't be unreasonable based on the operation's growth since 2016. Join us Feb. 3-5 for Cargo Facts EMEA 2020, the event serving as an international platform providing attendees with a direct connection to leading EMEA innovation executives. To register and for more information about the event, visit www.cargofactsemea.com .

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Sun Country Air to operate ten 737-800BCFs for Amazon

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Despite forecasted growth, air cargo traffic in 2020 should remain lackluster, Cargo Facts Consulting determines

FedEx falls hard in its latest earnings report

Related Posts

Bahrain’s newest all-cargo carrier is ready for takeoff

GA Telesis adds to 737-800SF backlog

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FedEx falls hard in its latest earnings report

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CARGO FACTS CONSULTING

CFC: US inbound cross-border e-commerce shipments jump 15%

E-commerce traffic boosts US domestic air express outlook through 2026

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