Southern Air begins flying 737-800Fs for Amazon

Atlas Air Worldwide’s subsidiary carrier Southern Air today put two 737-800BCFs into service on a CMI basis for Amazon Air. The two aircraft (32882 and 32611) are among at least five 737-800BCFs that Southern Air will begin flying for Amazon in 2019. Breaking away from a pattern of what appear to be test flights between […]

• Charles Kauffman
• May 2, 2019

UPS’ growing 747-8F fleet boosts air volumes in Q1

UPS reported first-quarter 2019 net income was down 17.4% year-over-year to $1.11 billion, on revenues that were up slightly (0.3%) at $17.1 billion. Operating profit for the quarter declined 8.3% to $1.39 billion, as the company was hit by forecasted “headwinds” and a series of severe winter storms that impacted the company’s US Domestic segment. […]

• Charles Kauffman
• April 26, 2019

737 Classics may still have a role to play in 727F fleet modernization

With deliveries of “third generation” narrowbody conversions, to which the 737 NGs and A320/21 family programs belong, beginning to accelerate, it’s easy to juxtapose the new generation of narrowbody freighters with the 737 Classics and lose sight of the first generation of narrowbody freighters: 727Fs. As 737-400 feedstock dwindles, will 737-300s see a resurgence as […]

• Charles Kauffman
• April 12, 2019

The narrowbody freighter fleet part III: 757-200F dominates in express

Today we conclude our analysis of the worldwide fleet of narrowbody jet freighters with a look at the fleet on a type-by-type basis, with a focus on express vs. general cargo, and then by regional distribution. You can read part I on the overall composition of the fleet here, and part II on the passenger-to-freighter […]

• Caryn Livingston
• April 9, 2019

Cargolux nabs three 747-400ERFs as ASL restructures leased fleet

Last year, Cargolux confirmed plans to add three used 747-400ERFs to its fleet in 2019. At the time, a number of sources for the aircraft were possible, but now that a Luxembourgian registration has been reserved for the first aircraft (35236, ex-ASL Airlines Belgium) the identities of the other two incoming 747-400ERFs begin to emerge. […]

• Charles Kauffman
• April 8, 2019

The narrowbody freighter fleet part I: 737 NG freighters take off

Today we begin a three-part analysis of the worldwide fleet of narrowbody jet freighters with a look at the overall composition of the fleet – how many of the different types are in operation by which carriers. Later this week, in part II, we will look at active and emerging conversion programs for the narrowbody […]

• Caryn Livingston
• April 3, 2019

Bedek expects STC for its 737-800BDSF program by June

Earlier this month, Israel-based Bedek Aviation Group commenced flight tests for its first freighter-converted 737-800BDSF (30498, ex-Transaero). Tests are being completed near Tel Aviv, where the former passenger aircraft was converted to freighter configuration. Although the partial shutdown of the U.S. Federal Government delayed flight tests, Bedek tells Cargo Facts that it is expecting the […]

• Charles Kauffman
• March 26, 2019

The first 7 operators of 737 NG freighters

Earlier this week, Atran Airlines, the express carrier subsidiary of Russia-based Volga Dnepr Group, announced it successfully added its first 737-800BCF to its AOC (32616, ex-Nok Air), on lease from GECAS. Atran has become the seventh 737 NG operator, since Bedek redelivered the first freighter-converted 737-700 in September 2017. Today, there are three active conversion […]

• Caryn Livingston and Charles Kauffman
• March 22, 2019