Charles Kauffman and Jeff Lee

Production freighter orders in 2019 – 747 nowhere to be seen

• Charles Kauffman and Jeff Lee
• January 15, 2020
• Aircraft, Carriers, Equipment, Features, Freighter Fleet Analysis, Production Freighters

Given that 2018 was such a stellar year for freighter orders, with eighty-three aircraft ordered, 2019 was perhaps always going to pale in comparison. Still, the year ended with a respectable twenty-eight production jet freighter aircraft being added to the order books. The orders for these twenty-eight aircraft, consisting of seventeen 777Fs and eleven 767-300Fs, […]

European freighter fleet analysis (Part II): 777F on the rise

• Charles Kauffman and Jeff Lee
• December 30, 2019
• Aircraft, Carriers, Conversions, Features, Production Freighters, Strategy, Widebody Conversions, Widebody Fleet Analysis

This is the second part of our analysis of the European jet freighter fleet. Last week, we looked at narrowbodies in Part I. Turning to the widebody jet freighter fleet operated by European carriers, the chart shows that the total number increased 8.3% since last year to 209 units. Notably, the overall number of 747-400Fs […]

European freighter fleet analysis (Part I): 737 Classics drive growth, for now

• Charles Kauffman and Jeff Lee
• December 23, 2019
• Aircraft, Carriers, Features, Freighter Fleet Analysis, Narrowbody Conversions, Narrowbody Fleet Analysis

In a year as tumultuous as 2019, it’s encouraging to see that European carriers continued to add freighter aircraft. Today we begin an analysis which will take a closer look at these fleets, starting with narrowbody jets in Part I and moving to widebodies in Part II. To begin with, we note that for this […]

Bain invests in Atlas’ leasing business to launch cargo JV

• Charles Kauffman and Jeff Lee
• December 18, 2019
• Aircraft, Conversions, News, Production Freighters, Strategy

Titan Aviation Holdings, the leasing subsidiary of Atlas Air Worldwide, and Bain Capital Credit today announced plans to establish a joint venture to develop a freighter aircraft leasing portfolio with a valuation of approximately $1 billion. Both companies will provide equity capital, with Bain and Titan initially contributing $360 million and $40 million, respectively. Long-term, […]

Qantas grounds 737-300F fleet, manages to secure lost capacity in midst of peak

• Charles Kauffman and Jeff Lee
• December 11, 2019
• Aircraft, Carriers, Narrowbody Conversions, News

Qantas Airways grounded four 737-300BDSFs (23478, 23486, 23488 and 23490) today after Israel Aerospace Industries informed operators of an ‘apparent irregularity’ with the rigid barrier systems installed on some of its 737 Classic conversion aircraft. Although details regarding the issue are slim, IAI promised a quick fix. The company is currently working with the Civil […]

New conversion programs to shake up market for cargo loading systems?

• Charles Kauffman and Jeff Lee
• December 9, 2019
• Aircraft, Conversions, Equipment, Features, Narrowbody Conversions, Widebody Conversions

With A320-family and 777 passenger-to-freighter conversion programs being developed by a number of different STC holders, the market for cargo loading systems (CLS) could see somewhat of a shakeup. At present, just a handful of companies manufacture maindeck CLS for freighter conversion – a situation that is not expected to change. New conversion programs, however, offer a chance of market share redistribution for the […]

Amazon Air receives Black Friday gifts of its own

• Charles Kauffman and Jeff Lee
• December 2, 2019
• Aircraft, Carriers, Conversions, Editorial, Equipment, Freighter Aircraft Transactions, Narrowbody Conversions, News, Strategy, Widebody Conversions

While Amazon was busy fulfilling the countless orders that were placed during Black Friday, the retailer also received a couple gifts of its own. These came in the form of two freighter aircraft that are joining Amazon’s own-controlled domestic express network, operated by Air Transport International (ATI), affiliate carrier of Air Transport Services Group (ATSG). […]

As Triumph idles 747 component production will Boeing follow?

• Charles Kauffman and Jeff Lee
• November 21, 2019
• Aircraft, Equipment, News, Production Freighters

The sole manufacturer of fuselage sections for Boeing’s 747 program, Triumph Group, has begun parting out its California factory and yesterday began auctioning off equipment. The company has built 747 fuselages for Boeing since the aircraft was launched in 1966. Boeing currently only has eighteen 747s left on firm order. All of them are -8Fs, […]