Jeff Lee

Emirates International Air Cargo emerges from legal limbo, prepares to launch with 737-400F

• Jeff Lee
• October 15, 2019
• Aircraft, Carriers, Conversions, Exclusive, Narrowbody Conversions, Strategy

A new cargo carrier could soon be launching freighter operations in the Middle East. Abu Dhabi-based startup Emirates International Air Cargo (EIAC) appears to have taken redelivery of its first freighter-converted 737-400F (28151, ex-Qantas), after a legal dispute between EIAC and Connecticut-based Aero Acquisitions prevented the aircraft from being redelivered for several years. Unit 28151, […]

Zimex expands turboprop freighter fleet with ATR 42Fs

• Jeff Lee
• October 14, 2019
• Aircraft, Carriers, Conversions, Express, Freighter Aircraft Transactions, Narrowbody Conversions, News, Strategy

Switzerland-based Zimex Aviation has in the past few months steadily ramped up its fleet with the addition of three ATR 42 freighters. The carrier had previously only operated ATR 72Fs. Zimex confirmed to Cargo Facts that it now has a total of seven converted ATR freighters – three ATR 42Fs and four ATR 72Fs, all […]

Lufthansa Cargo preparing to retire another MD-11F?

• Jeff Lee
• October 11, 2019
• Aircraft, Capacity & Demand, Carriers, Production Freighters, Strategy

Another MD-11F belonging to Germany-based Lufthansa Cargo appears to be being prepared for retirement. The aircraft (48805) would the second of two MD-11Fs the carrier had planned to remove from its fleet by the end of the year, after unit 48785 was ferried to Victorville (VCV) in August 2019. Unit 48805 has not flown since […]

Kalitta to operate DHL’s next 767

• Jeff Lee
• October 10, 2019
• Aircraft, Conversions, Exclusive, News, Strategy, Widebody Conversions

DHL Express will hand over its next 767 to Kalitta Air to be operated on a CMI basis, the German express integrator has confirmed to Cargo Facts. The aircraft, a 767-300BDSF (27686, ex-Royal Air Maroc) which appears to have completed the conversion process, is expected to be redelivered and put into operation within the next […]

Malaysia Airlines to keep three A330Fs – for now

• Jeff Lee
• October 9, 2019
• Aircraft, Carriers, News, Production Freighters, Strategy

Malaysia Airlines is happy with the size of its freighter fleet for now and will instead focus more on strategic collaboration to achieve growth, the carrier tells Cargo Facts. But the airline says that, while there are no immediate plans to alter the cargo fleet, it is keeping its options open and may even decide […]

Third A330-300P2F set to join Air Hong Kong fleet

• Jeff Lee
• October 8, 2019
• Aircraft, Carriers, Conversions, Exclusive, Express, News, Strategy, Widebody Conversions

DHL Express plans to place its third freighter-converted A330-300F (231, ex-Thai Airways) with Air Hong Kong. The express integrator confirmed to Cargo Facts that this aircraft will begin its Asian operations later this month. Unit 231 was redelivered by Elbe Flugzeugwerke (EFW) in September 2019 and was painted into the Air Hong Kong livery in […]

Second UPS 767-300BDSF completed

• Jeff Lee
• October 7, 2019
• Aircraft, Capacity & Demand, Carriers, Conversions, Express, Freighter Aircraft Transactions, News, Strategy, Widebody Conversions

Cargo Aircraft Management (CAM), Air Transport Services Group’s (ATSG) leasing arm, has taken redelivery of the second 767-300BDSF (28039, ex-Air Italy) it has agreed to dry-lease to Atlanta-based UPS [FAT 005158-005159]. After a three-hour test flight, the aircraft was ferried from the Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) facility in Tel Aviv (TLV) to Shannon (SNN). Unit […]

Garuda keen to expand freighter ops

• Jeff Lee
• October 4, 2019
• Aircraft, Capacity & Demand, Carriers, Conversions, News, Strategy

As e-commerce continues to drive airfreight growth, Garuda Indonesia could grow its freighter fleet to eight units by the end of next year. The Indonesian carrier told local media outlet Kontan that it has already been using three freighters this year. Garuda said that it plans to add both A330Fs for international routes and 737-800Fs […]