Airbus freighters dominate Turkey fleet

The commitment to Airbus freighters by Turkish carriers is driving the expansion of the European manufacturer’s aircraft across Europe, the Middle East and Africa. Airbus aircraft registered with Turkish operators accounted for more than 25% of all the freighters domiciled within the EMEA region as of April 30, according to Cargo Facts research. Airbus freighters also made up more than two-thirds of the overall freighter fleet in Turkey. Of the thirty-five freighters in service in Turkey as of April 30, sixteen were A330s, five were A321s, three were A310s and one was an A300. A330Fs flock to Turkey With sixteen units, Turkey is home to the second-largest population of A330 freighters worldwide, second only to China. Turkey entered the A330 conversion era in 2021 with MNG Airlines’ first A330-300P2F redelivery (879, ex-China Southern Airlines). Since then, three more A330-300P2Fs have entered service with MNG. The most recent is a 2014-vintage unit (1510, ex-Philippine Airlines) which is the youngest A330P2F in MNG’s fleet . The airline leased the aircraft from Japan-based JLPS and began operating the freighter in April this year after it left EFW’s Dresden (DRS) facility in August 2024. Also in August 2024, a 2008-vintage A330-300P2F (964) formerly in service with Mexico-based Mas became the third A330-300P2F to join MNG when CDB Aviation delivered it on lease. [caption id="attachment_57287716" align="aligncenter" width="844"] Turkish Airlines operates ten production A330-200Fs. (Courtesy/Linz Airport)[/caption] Unit 964 joined MNG’s fleet nearly two years after it took redelivery of its second ex-China Southern Airlines A330-300P2F (889) in the second half of 2022. MNG also has two production A330-200Fs, having picked up one from CMA CGM at the end of 2023, but Turkish Airlines operates the most of the type with ten units. MNG is about to be joined by a second operator of A330P2Fs in the country as two A330-300P2Fs prepare to enter service with ULS Airlines Cargo as part of a 2023 sale, conversion and leaseback deal with CAM. The two 2000-vintage units (356 and 349) are already in Istanbul (ISL). Unit 349 has been there since August 2023 and recently became the first EFW conversion completed at the Turkish Technic facility. Meanwhile, CAM flew unit 356 to ISL on April 10 after conversion at DRS and paint in the United States . 777 freighters to grow in number There have only been eight 777Fs in Turkey since 2020, all with Turkish Airlines. But that number is set to grow in the next couple of years. The flag carrier ordered four more units from Boeing in July 2024 as part of its ambition to expand its cargo business. Meanwhile, ACMI specialist BBN Airlines plans to enter the widebody market and will take at least one or two 777-300ERMF conversions from AviaAM Leasing in the next one to two years to become the first operator of the type. The only other Boeing freighters registered in Turkey are two 747-400BDSFs with AirACT. That carrier previously had three production 747-400Fs but those aircraft now fly on the AOC of Bulgaria-based affiliate Compass Air Cargo . A321Fs receive warm welcome The A321F became the first next-generation narrowbody freighter to enter Turkey when BBN Airlines leased a 2003-vintage A321-200P2F (2005, ex-Red Wings) from BBAM in June 2023. [caption id="attachment_57287714" align="aligncenter" width="2047"] MNG added two A321P2Fs in 2024. (Courtesy/MNG Airlines)[/caption] That same month, Juniper Aviation Investments delivered a 2008-vintage A321-200P2F (3369, ex-Cathay Pacific) to MNG, making Turkey one of a handful of countries with more than one A321 freighter operator. BBN subsequently leased two more A321-200P2Fs from BBAM in 2023 and 2024, while MNG also received another unit from Juniper later in 2023. Continued renewal In the next five years, the freighter fleet in Turkey will undergo further modernization. ULS has hinted at plans to add more A330-300P2Fs to replace its A310Fs as it transitions to a uniform fleet and grows its business. Cargo Facts believes that MNG will likely also introduce more A330s, whether production or converted, and phase out the A300 platform. Turkey will enter a new chapter of next-generation freighter fleet development in a few years when Turkish Airlines begins taking delivery of at least five A350Fs on firm order from Airbus. The carrier also holds options for five more under the deal, announced in December 2023. Register now for Cargo Facts EMEA, an essential regional event for industry stakeholders, on May 6-8 at the Shangri-La Bosphorus in Turkey.

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