17 Asia-Pacific fleet additions in 2019

• Jeff Lee
• December 13, 2019
• Aircraft, Carriers, Conversions, Equipment, Narrowbody Conversions, Production Freighters, Strategy, Widebody Conversions

Earlier this week, we looked at how the freighter fleet in mainland China has grown in 2019. As the year draws to a close, here’s an overview of the seventeen freighter aircraft that were added to carriers based elsewhere in the Asia-Pacific region over the course of the year. Airwork September: 737-300F (25264, ex-Bluebird Nordic) […]

Swiftair’s Cygnus Air adds first of three planned 757-200PCFs from Jetran

• Charles Kauffman
• December 13, 2019
• Aircraft, All Posts, Conversions, Equipment, Freighter Aircraft Transactions, Narrowbody Conversions

Spain-based Swiftair added a 757-200PCF this week (24613, ex-American Airlines) following conversion to freighter configuration by Precision Aircraft Solutions at Flightstar Aircraft Services in Jacksonville, Florida.  [FATs 00525-005259]. The aircraft was the first of three Swiftair-bound conversions ordered by Jetran and will be operating for Swiftair’s affiliate carrier, Cygnus Air, which the company acquired last […]

Grounding of IAI-converted 737s extends to 737-700s

• Jeff Lee
• December 12, 2019
• Aircraft, Carriers, Conversions, Narrowbody Conversions, News

The rigid barrier irregularity discovered by Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI), which led to Australian carrier Qantas grounding its four converted 737-300 freighters, affects more than just -300BDSFs. Alaska Airlines has also grounded its fleet of three 737-700BDSFs, which it received in 2017 and 2018. IAI told Cargo Facts that approximately 40 aircraft in total are […]

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 […]

SprintAir prepares to add an ATR 72F

• Jeff Lee
• December 11, 2019
• Aircraft, Carriers, Conversions, Equipment, Express, Narrowbody Conversions, News

Poland-based SprintAir will soon add another ATR 72 freighter to its fleet, as the carrier looks to expand its cargo operations. SprintAir told Cargo Facts that it is expecting the aircraft (441) to be redelivered in January 2020 and to enter service in February. Unit 441 was the only remaining ATR 72-200 still in passenger […]

SF Airlines takes eighth freighter in 2019

• Jeff Lee
• December 10, 2019
• Aircraft, Carriers, Conversions, Express, Freighter Aircraft Transactions, Narrowbody Conversions, News, Strategy, Widebody Conversions

SF Airlines has taken redelivery of a 757-200PCF (29944, ex-TUI Airways) from Precision Aircraft Solutions [FAT 005255]. The Shenzhen (SZX)-based carrier has now added eight freighters to its fleet this year, far surpassing any other Chinese airline. Unit 29944 began its life in 1999, flying in passenger configuration until 2019. It was then inducted for […]

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 […]

Increased 767 production rate boosts Dreamlifter utilization

• Charles Kauffman
• December 9, 2019
• Aircraft, Carriers, Conversions, Equipment, Logistics, Update, Widebody Conversions

Spirit AeroSystems delivered the first integrated forward fuselage for the 767 program to Boeing last week. The piece was delivered to Boeing’s Everett factory (PAE) from Spirit’s Wichita facility (IAB) by an Atlas Air-operated 747-400LCF, also known as a “Dreamlifter.” Spirit’s integrated section is a composite of four smaller components the company used to ship […]