Charles Kauffman and Jeff Lee

CargoLogicAir to cut two 747Fs early next year

• Charles Kauffman and Jeff Lee
• November 1, 2019
• Aircraft, Capacity & Demand, Carriers, News, Production Freighters, Strategy

UK-based CargoLogicAir (CLA) will reduce its four-unit 747F fleet by two units next year, “because of the ongoing challenging market conditions,” according to a statement from the carrier. Following the reduction, CLA intends to continue operating two aircraft in ACMI service. The cuts are the latest prompted by CLA’s parent, the Volga-Dnepr Group, which earlier this […]

ASL Airlines Belgium to lease China Airlines 747-400F

• Charles Kauffman and Jeff Lee
• October 25, 2019
• Carriers, Exclusive, Production Freighters

A 747-400F (30762, ex-China Airlines) will soon join the ASL Airlines Belgium fleet, Cargo Facts has learned [FAT 005217]. Previously the aircraft had been in long-term storage at Victorville (VCV), where China Airlines has two other 747-400Fs in storage (30760 and 30761). The reactivation pushes the stored 747-400F fleet even lower. Cargo Facts estimates there are now just four 747-400F […]

CFS 2019: A330P2Fs won’t supplant freighter-converted 767s for 3-5 years

• Charles Kauffman and Jeff Lee
• October 21, 2019
• Cargo Facts Symposium, CFS 2019 - Airborne Global Video Series, Equipment, News, Widebody Conversions

SAN DIEGO – Although the A330 is seen as a likely successor to freighter-converted 767-300s, not for 3-5 years, said Rich Corrado, president Air Transport Services Group (ATSG). With an estimated 220 airframes remaining in passenger service of an age suitable for conversion, which for ATSG’s portfolio tends to be in a range of 15-25 […]

Cargo Facts Symposium Day 1: key takeaways

• Charles Kauffman and Jeff Lee
• October 18, 2019
• Cargo Facts Symposium, Conversions, Equipment, Narrowbody Conversions, News, Widebody Conversions

SAN DIEGO – A crowd of distinguished air cargo executives gathered for Cargo Facts Symposium 2019, held at the Intercontinental San Diego. Although the air cargo industry faces uncertainty on multiple fronts such as trade and political headwinds, and aircraft program complications, delegates remain overwhelmingly upbeat on long-term growth prospects for the industry. A few […]

Who’s who in freighter conversions: The conversion houses

• Charles Kauffman and Jeff Lee
• September 20, 2019
• Aircraft, Conversions, Narrowbody Conversions, Widebody Conversions

Today, we conclude our two-part analysis of the passenger-to-freighter conversion market. In the first part yesterday, we began with a look at the increasing number of narrowbody conversion programs for Next Generation, or NG, aircraft. In the second part today, we take a look at the six conversion houses that currently offer passenger-to-freighter conversion programs […]

Who’s who in freighter conversions: So many programs, so little feedstock

• Charles Kauffman and Jeff Lee
• September 19, 2019
• Conversions, Narrowbody Conversions, Widebody Conversions

While recent years have witnessed redelivery of the first of the next generation of narrowbody freighter conversions,  the narrowbody conversion space is about to get even busier and more competitive next year. Not only will a second platform, the A321, be introduced but, by the end of 2019, up to three additional narrowbody conversion programs […]

China Postal fleet renewal accelerates with redelivery of second 737-800BCF

• Charles Kauffman and Jeff Lee
• September 6, 2019
• Aircraft, All Posts, Carriers, Conversions, Freighter Aircraft Transactions, Narrowbody Conversions, News, Strategy

And then there were two. China Postal Airlines has taken redelivery of its second 737-800BCF (30787, ex-China Southern Airlines), on lease from BBAM [FATs 005125-5126]. The aircraft departed Jinan Airport (TNA) following conversion by Boeing at Taikoo (Shandong) Aircraft Engineering Co., Ltd. (STAECO). After a stop at Seoul Incheon Airport (ICN), the aircraft arrived at […]

Atlas Air adds another 767-300BCF

• Charles Kauffman and Jeff Lee
• September 6, 2019
• Aircraft, All Posts, Carriers, Conversions, Freighter Aircraft Transactions, Strategy, Widebody Conversions

Atlas Air Worldwide Holdings has taken redelivery of a 767-300BCF (27568, ex-Neos) from Boeing and this week put it into commercial service with Atlas Air [FAT 005122]. Although the aircraft is currently utilized for routes that are consistent with Amazon’s own-controlled network, the 767-300BCF is not dry leased to Amazon like the other nineteen 767Fs […]