YTO offshoot to convert 757s with Precision

Northwestern Cargo International Airlines (NWCIA), an affiliate of YTO Cargo Airlines, has acquired four ex-Xiamen Airlines 757-200s from Guangdong-based Meihua Aviation Technology and will have them converted by Precision Aircraft Solutions [FATs 005867-5870]. [caption id="attachment_415215" align="alignright" width="550"] NWCIA’s first 737-300F. (Photo/NWCIA)[/caption] Three aircraft will be converted by AMECO in Chengdu (CTU), while a fourth will be converted in Xiamen (XMN) by TAECO. One airframe (34009) has been ferried to Chengdu (CTU), where it will be converted at the AMECO facility, while another (32941) was brought to Xiamen (XMN), ahead of induction at the TAECO facility. The two remaining aircraft (34008 and 32942) will also be converted at CTU. All four freighters are expected to be redelivered by the end of 2021, NWCIA told Cargo Facts. Much like NWCIA, which was first discussed in 2016 , the conversion deal has been in the works for some time now. Guangdong Meihua Aviation Technology acquired the four 757-200s and a spare RB-211 engine from Xiamen Airlines as part of a November 2018 bid, according to Meihua’s parent company, Xuehang. The airframes, now sold to NWCIA, had been parked in Fuzhou (FOC) where Xiamen Airlines continued to perform maintenance on them, according to a release from Xuehang. NWCIA borrowed its first aircraft, a 737-300F (27520) previously in service with YTO, in November, and on the final day of 2020, the Civil Administration of China issued the Xi’an-based startup an AOC, with the first commercial flight taking place Jan. 8 between Xi’an (XIY) and Shanghai (PVG). NWCIA intends to return the 737-300F to YTO Cargo Airlines after some of the 757-200PCFs are redelivered. Investors led by Shaanxi Provincial Communications Investment Group, which owns a 50% stake, have put forth a total of 1 billion RMB (US $154 million), according to NWCIA’s website. The parent of YTO Cargo Airlines and Shaanxi Aviation Industry Investment Co, each hold a 20% stake, while West Airport Group holds a 10% share. The startup carrier has ambitious fleet and network growth plans over the next five years to launch new routes to between Western China and neighboring countries.

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