A 737-400F will soon join Mistral Air’s 737-300QC (pictured). Are more freighters on the way? Photo: Laurent Errera, Wikimedia
Every week in Cargo Facts Update, we include a list of recent freighter aircraft transactions, and then a comprehensive summary in the monthly issue of Cargo Facts. Each reference to a freighter aircraft transaction (FAT) in our publications contains a unique FAT code linked to the FAT database on the CargoFacts.com website. This database is available to subscribers as an interactive tool on our website, and you can go to it from the “FAT Data” tab at the top of the home page, or directly at http://cargofacts1.wpengine.com/fat/
Below, we include the transactions from recent issues of Cargo Facts Update, and we encourage you to make use of the FAT database here on our website.
Atlanta-based UPS took delivery of a 747-8F (64258) [004643]. This is the fifth -8F that UPS has taken delivery of in 2018, leaving nineteen of the freighters in its order backlog with Boeing.
Ethiopian Airlines took delivery of a 777F (65397) [004644]. This is Ethiopian’s seventh 777F, but not its last. The carrier has three more 777Fs on order with Boeing. Ethiopian also has one 757-200PCF in maintenance but does not currently operate any narrowbody freighters. This will also soon change. Ethiopian is the launch customer for AEI’s forthcoming 737-800SF, and will lease two of the airframe type from GECAS. The first aircraft (29121, ex-Air Berlin) is currently undergoing conversion at the Commercial Jet facility in Miami.
Atlas Air took redelivery of a 767-300BDSF (26208, ex-EuroAtlantic Airways) following conversion to freighter configuration by Bedek at its MRO facility in Tel Aviv. Atlas will operate the aircraft on lease for Amazon Air [FATs 004649-4650]. A second aircraft undergoing conversion in Tel Aviv (28865) is also expected to be redelivered shortly.
Cargo Aircraft Management (CAM) acquired a 767-300 (26912, ex-30 West) and ferried it to Tel Aviv (TLV) for conversion to freighter configuration by Bedek [FATs 004647-4648]. During its second-quarter earnings call, CAM’s parent, Air Transport Services Group, said that through its leasing subsidiary CAM, it plans to convert and deliver a total of nine 767F-300Fs in 2018. Five 767-300Fs were added to CAM’s portfolio during the first half of the year and, including 26912, three 767-300s are currently undergoing conversion for a total of eight aircraft so far in 2018.
Italy-based Mistral Air this month took delivery of a 737-400SF (28896, ex-Alaska) on lease from Automatic LLC [004642], which local sources familiar with the airline suspect is linked to a partnership with Amazon.
Earlier this year, the Poste Italiane Group’s airline scrapped its passenger operations to focus on cargo flights – the majority of which operate in overnight service for the Post out of its Brescia hub (VBS). Mistral’s 737-400SF arrives as Brescia Airport is making an attempt to resurrect cargo operations at the airport. The Italian North East Airport System, which manages VBS along with three other airports, recently did away with nighttime flight restrictions and appointed a cargo development manager. Cargo Facts believes Mistral Air is already moving cargo for Amazon.
India-based low-cost carrier SpiceJet took redelivery of a 737-700BDSF (29042, ex-Xiamen Airlines), to support the launch of a newly created cargo subsidiary, SpiceXpress [FAT 004645-4646]. The aircraft, on lease from Spectre Cargo, is the first of four Spectre-leased 737 NG freighters SpiceXpress plans to put into service over the next few months as part of the carrier’s initial foray into freighter operations.
Vallair took redelivery of a 737-400F (26605, ex-Japan Transocean Air) following conversion to freighter configuration by PEMCO at the STAECO facility in Jinan (TSN) [FAT 004651-4653]. The aircraft is currently in storage at Montpellier airport (MPL).
