80+ new deliveries and fresh conversions join global fleet in H1 2022

At least eighty-two new or freshly converted freighters were delivered or redelivered in the first half of 2022, according to Cargo Facts ’ analysis of freighter aircraft transactions from January through June 2022. This was more than 20% higher than the sixty-seven in the same time period in 2021. Of the total eighty-two freighters, thirty-one were widebodies and fifty-one were narrowbodies or regional freighters. [caption id="attachment_56725908" align="alignright" width="560"] Boeing delivered three 747-8Fs in the first half of the year. (Photo/Boeing)[/caption] The conversion market stood out the most, with sixty-four of the eighty-one transactions being redeliveries. These were predominantly narrowbody or regional aircraft, with forty-eight, while widebodies accounted for sixteen. At the same time last year, forty-nine of the sixty-seven transactions were redeliveries of conversions. There may be several more conversions that have been completed but not yet departed the conversion site; these freighters have not been included. Although there was a diverse range of freighter types delivered and redelivered in the first half of 2022, the clear leader was the 737F with thirty-one redeliveries. Apart from two 737-400SFs, all were -800Fs. Boeing medium widebodies continued to join the global active fleet, with the 767 accounting for fifteen orders and redeliveries. There was almost an even split between the BCF and BDSF STCs, along with a few production units. The majority of activity placed aircraft in North America, whether they were factory freighters or conversions. Forty-four of the eighty-one movements were delivered or redelivered to customers based in the region. Note that for the purposes of this analysis, the “customer” is the company which ordered the aircraft or the conversion, not the end operator. Europe was the second most popular region to receive new freighters and fresh conversions with twenty-two units, while Asia accounted for twelve. The single customer with the most deliveries or redeliveries in the first six months of 2022 was BBAM, with one A321-200P2F and five 737-800BCFs. Perhaps this should not come as too much of a surprise, given that the lessor is the largest customer for Elbe Flugzeugwerke’s (EFW) A321P2F program and one of the largest for Boeing’s 737-800BCF program . Aero Capital Solutions (ACS) also stood out after it took redelivery of five 737-800SF conversions from Aeronautical Engineers Inc. (AEI). ACS is the largest customer of the AEI 737-800SF STC. Placements so far this year have been with BAE Systems and Amazon, while one will soon join an unidentified lessee. Cargo Aircraft Management (CAM) had a strong showing of 767-300BDSF redeliveries, which started with units 29603 (ex-American Airlines) and 24040 (ex-Blue Panorama Airlines) in January and February, respectively. FedEx was the operator taking on the most freighters. The express carrier added three production 767-300Fs from Boeing, two ATR 72-600Fs and the first Cessna 408 SkyCourier that will soon enter CMI service with North Carolina-based Mountain Air Cargo. Cargo Facts believes the second half of 2022 may see an even higher number of deliveries and redeliveries compared to the first half, especially if manufacturers and converters better mitigate some of the supply chain issues that have resulted in delays. But given there were a record number of orders for both production and converted freighters in 2021 — ninety-one and around 300 , respectively — the following few years could continue in much the same fashion. “In the narrowbody space there is a massive capacity overhang developing and I see a bubble potentially developing in the medium-widebody space as well,” said Frederic Horst, managing director of Cargo Facts Consulting. “The bubble in the large-widebody space will only start filling up once all those conversions start hitting the market.” Below is the full list of deliveries and redeliveries in the first six months of 2022.

80+ new deliveries and fresh conversions join global fleet in H1 2022

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