Cargo Facts’ European editor Alex Lennane reports that troubled all-cargo carrier Centurion Cargo will end US-Europe service, operating its last Miami-Amsterdam flight tomorrow.
Miami-based Centurion expanded its North/South America MD-11F operations by adding the European connection three years ago with five weekly 747-400 freighter frequencies to Amsterdam. However, the carrier has faced mounting legal problems this year, and has grounded its MD-11F fleet. With the cessation of the Amsterdam service, what is left? The answer to that question is: “sister carrier SkyLease Cargo.” SkyLease, which, like Centurion, is privately owned by Alfonso Rey, currently appears likely to continue flying, albeit with a reduced fleet of just two 747-400ERFs.
The combined fleet of the two carriers currently includes two 747-400ERFs, one 747-400F, and ten MD-11Fs. However, lessor AWAS has filed lawsuits claiming unpaid lease rentals on the 747-400F and four of the MD-11Fs. According to flight-tracking service FlightAware, Centurion operated its last MD-11F flight three weeks ago. SkyLease appears to be operating the two 747-400ERFs, but only one MD-11F at present.
Whether SkyLease will, as planned, move to an all 747 fleet is unclear. The two -400ERFs are leased from AerCap, which has not commented on the Centurion/SkyLease situation. Further, before the MD-11F groundings, and the AWAS lawsuits, Centurion/SkyLease was in the process of acquiring another -400ERF (33097, ex-Air France-KLM). That freighter was re-registered as N904AR on 2 September. The “AR” suffix is typically used by Alfonso Rey, but Cargo Facts can find no record of the freighter actually flying for either Centurion or SkyLease yet.
AirBridgeCargo has returned the ex Air France 747-428ERF (L/N 1361, MSN 33097) to the lessor (Leasehold LLC, Miami Springs, see FAA registry)) and the aircraft is re-registered N904AR for Centurion Air Cargo/Skylease at September 02.
The aircraft was actual ferried from WSAP/QPG Paya Lebar, Singapore (after maintenance ?) towards KSO/GSO (Piedmont Triad, North Carolina) at September 25
See : http://www.skyliner-aviation.de/regdb.main?LC=nav4&page=3
The aircraft will be replaced in the ABC fleet by 747-867F (L/N1505, MSN 60687) to be delivered in October.