Avianor and AKKA partner on passenger-freighter conversions

• Jeff Lee
• May 21, 2020
• Aircraft, Capacity & Demand, Carriers, Conversions, Editorial, Equipment, Narrowbody Conversions, News, Strategy, Widebody Conversions

Montreal-based Avianor has partnered with Brussels-headquartered AKKA Technologies to have its passenger-freighter reconfiguration package approved and certified by the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA). AKKA has also been granted rights to use the solution. Matthieu Duhaime, president and COO of Avianor, told Cargo Facts EASA approval is expected in six to eight weeks. While […]

Astral Aviation looks to 767 platform for growth

• Charles Kauffman
• May 21, 2020
• Aircraft, Carriers, Editorial, Equipment, News, Production Freighters, Widebody Conversions

Kenya-based Astral Aviation plans to add to its fleet two freighter-converted 767Fs, Cargo Facts has learned. The medium-widebody freighters will soon complement the carrier’s existing large widebody fleet, and are expected to open up new routes in support of the region’s perishables exports. Astral expects to take a 767-200F within a matter of months, and […]

Ethiopian grows reconfigured pax-freighter fleet to 20+

• Jeff Lee
• May 20, 2020
• Aircraft, Capacity & Demand, Carriers, Conversions, Editorial, Equipment, Logistics, Narrowbody Conversions, News, Production Freighters, Strategy, Widebody Conversions

Ethiopian Airlines now has the largest fleet of reconfigured passenger-freighters by far, having modified twenty-two of its passenger aircraft by removing some or most of the seats from their cabins. The airline told Cargo Facts the twenty-two aircraft consist of four A350-900s, five Dash 8-Q400s, five 737-800s, two 767-300ERs, four 777-300ERs and two 787-9s. Together […]

Boeing counters capacity crunch with pax mods

• Charles Kauffman
• May 20, 2020
• Aircraft, All Posts, Conversions, Editorial, Equipment, Exclusive, Narrowbody Conversions, Strategy, Widebody Conversions

The Boeing modification team has developed solutions for airlines that facilitate cargo carriage on passenger aircraft, reflecting the reality that air cargo demand could outstrip capacity beyond the summer months. While regulators swiftly granted temporary exemptions allowing operators to utilize cabin space for medical equipment and humanitarian aid related to the COVID-19 pandemic, Boeing is […]

GAMECO inducts first 737-800

• Jeff Lee
• May 19, 2020
• Aircraft, Carriers, Editorial, Equipment, Narrowbody Conversions, News, Strategy

Guangzhou Aircraft Maintenance Engineering Company Ltd. (GAMECO) has kicked off its 737-800BCF conversion line with the induction of its first aircraft (29052, ex-Aeromexico) [FAT 005418]. GAMECO, which Boeing announced as its third conversion site for 737-800BCFs in October 2019, said it is also looking to launch a second -800BCF conversion line later this year. BBAM confirmed to […]

Cessna SkyCourier commences flight testing

• Charles Kauffman
• May 19, 2020
• Aircraft, All Posts, Carriers, Equipment, News

Textron Aviation completed a two hour and fifteen minute test flight for its in-development Cessna SkyCourier turboprop aircraft May 17. During the flight, test pilots evaluated the aircraft’s stability and control, as well as propulsion, environmental, flight controls and avionics systems. In the coming months, subsequent tests utilizing the prototype and other ground test units […]

Cargo Facts Connect: Carriers add capacity with passenger-freighter reconfigurations

• Charles Kauffman and Jeff Lee
• May 15, 2020
• Aircraft, All Posts, Business, Capacity & Demand, Carriers, Conversions, Editorial, Equipment, Freighter Aircraft Transactions, Freighter Fleet Analysis, Narrowbody Conversions, News, Podcast, Production Freighters, Video

At least twenty-two carriers have reconfigured close to seventy passenger aircraft, and Cargo Facts this week released an update to its new Passenger-Freighter Database that illustrates the degree to which passenger aircraft have been modified to boost capacity to carry cargo . In the video below, Cargo Facts editors Charles Kauffman and Jeff Lee discuss […]

Raya grows widebody fleet

• Charles Kauffman and Jeff Lee
• May 15, 2020
• Aircraft, Carriers, Conversions, Editorial, Equipment, Freighter Aircraft Transactions, Logistics, News, Strategy, Widebody Conversions

Malaysia-based Raya Airways will lease a 767-200BDSF (22215, ex-Amerijet International) from Cargo Aircraft Management (CAM) [FAT 005413]. This is Raya’s second 767-200BDSF and grows the carrier’s fleet to four units. Apart from the two CAM-leased 767-200BDSFs, Raya operates a 737-400SF (27660, ex-Japan Transocean Air) and a 757-200PCF (24472, ex-China Cargo Airlines). Raya previously told Cargo […]