Top 5 narrowbody stories of 2024

The narrowbody freighter segment in 2024 was relatively slow as carriers, lessors and manufacturers altered their fleet strategies while grappling with rising costs, engine challenges and lack of conversion feedstock, among other factors. With 2025 on the horizon, Cargo Facts reflects on the stories that have altered the shape and near-term trajectory of the narrowbody freighter fleet globally. Here are the five most-read stories reported by Cargo Facts in 2024 involving narrowbody freighters. 1. Eastern’s bid for iAero halts DHL CMI deal [caption id="attachment_417205" align="alignright" width="380"] iAero operated five DHL CMI 737-800BDSFs. (Courtesy/iAero Airways)[/caption] Eastern Airlines parent Eastern Air Holdings submitted a purchase agreement along with a $2.25 million deposit on March 11 to acquire iAero Airways’ fleet of twenty-nine 737s after iAero filed for bankruptcy in October 2023. IAero ceased operations in April. The deal was for the aircraft only. Eastern told Cargo Facts it was not planning to continue the deal that Phoenix-based iAero had with DHL to operate five 737-800BDSFs on a CMI basis and two 737-800SFs on an ACMI basis. Two of the 737-800BDSFs (30468 and 30499) are set to start flying with DHL’s European CMI providers. 2. Mesa exits DHL CMI deal Mesa Airlines, another Phoenix-based carrier, also concluded its CMI deal with DHL in the first quarter of 2024. Mesa began operating two 737-400SFs (27674 and 27157) on behalf of DHL in 2020. DHL then placed a 2001-vintage 737-800BDSF (28326) with Mesa in March 2023. DHL removed unit 28326 from Mesa’s AOC and flew the aircraft to Ypsilanti, Mich. (YIP), on Feb. 24. The freighter is now in CMI service with Kalitta Charters II. 3. BBN Airlines Nordic returns freighters, gives up AOC [caption id="attachment_57147939" align="alignright" width="380"] BBN Airlines Nordic previously operated 737-800Fs and 737-400Fs. (Courtesy/Bluebird Nordic)[/caption] Iceland-based BBN Airlines Nordic closed the final chapter of its operations and surrendered its AOC on May 1. Factors including the slowing air cargo market, recovery of belly capacity and surplus of converted freighters influenced BBN’s decision to permanently shut down the airline, former Chief Executive Audrone Keinyte told Cargo Facts in May. Formerly called Bluebird Nordic, the ACMI carrier was acquired by Avia Solutions Group (ASG) in 2020. Almost all of the 737 freighters that BBN Airlines Nordic had at the beginning of 2024 are now in operation with BBN Airlines Indonesia and AirExplore, both also part of ASG. 4. Qantas retires Boeing freighters Australia-based Qantas completed its transition to an all-Airbus fleet when it retired a 1990-vintage 737-400SF (24796) from its fleet in August. Unit 24796 was one of four 737 Classics that Qantas operated at the beginning of the year. The carrier sold it, along with the three 737-300Fs (23490, 23488 and 23486) to Lake Mary, Fla.-based Automatic and replaced them with three A321-200P2Fs, bringing its total Airbus next-generation narrowbody freighter fleet to six A321Fs. Qantas, which also retired its sole 767-300F in 2024, could grow its fleet to twelve A321Fs by the end of 2027. 5. Texel takes over from Airwork on Team Global Express ops [caption id="attachment_57147938" align="alignright" width="380"] Texel Air Australasia operates most of its 737-800BCFs for Team Global Express. (Courtesy/Team Global Express)[/caption] New Zealand-based Texel Air Australasia reached a seven-year ACMI deal with Team Global Express (TGE) in 2024 to operate four 737-800BCFs on behalf of the Australian logistics company. Texel Air Australasia and its freighters replaced the 737 Classics that fellow New Zealand carrier Airwork previously operated for TGE. Some of the TGE flights now benefit from extended diversion time operations of up to 120 minutes, for which Texel obtained approval in October. Register now for Cargo Facts' essential regional events for industry stakeholders: Cargo Facts LATAM 2025 on Feb. 10-11 at the Pullman Sao Paulo Guarulhos Airport in Brazil; Cargo Facts Asia 2025 on March 24-26 at the W Shanghai in China; and Cargo Facts EMEA 2025 on May 6-8 at the Shangri-La Bosphorus in Turkey.

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