Qatar Airways commits to five more 777Fs

Qatar Airways plans to add another five 777Fs to its freighter fleet, the carrier announced today as part of a commitment signed with Boeing at the Paris Air Show. The carrier is already the second-largest operator of the type, with sixteen 777Fs currently in service and another five on order, excluding today’s commitment, which if […]

• Jeff Lee
• June 19, 2019

Amazon commits to 15 more 737-800BCFs, GECAS confirms role as lessor

Amazon confirmed plans to lease fifteen additional 737-800BCFs from GECAS, to be delivered by 2021, in an agreement announced today at the Paris Air Show [FATs 004971-4985]. These fifteen units are in addition to the five 737-800BCFs Amazon has already secured, and has contracted Atlas-affiliate Southern Air to operate on a CMI basis by year-end […]

• Charles Kauffman and Jeff Lee
• June 18, 2019

Tianjin Air Cargo prepares to add China’s first 737-800BCF

HNA Group subsidiary Tianjin Air Cargo added a 737-800BCF (32602, ex-Hainan Airlines), on lease from Spectre Air Capital, following conversion to freighter configuration by Boeing at the STAECO facility in Jinan (TNA) [FATs 004944-4945]. When the aircraft commences operations, it could be symbolic for a number of reasons. Not only would it be the first 737-NG […]

• Jeff Lee
• June 18, 2019

Kalitta Air forays into 777F operations with ex-Emirates freighter

US-based Kalitta Air acquired its first 777F (35607, ex-Emirates) on lease from DAE Aviation, the carrier has confirmed to Cargo Facts [FAT 004938]. The aircraft is scheduled to arrive at Kalitta's Detroit area base at Willow Run Airport (YIP) tomorrow and will be operating in commercial service following ETOPS qualification, which is expected within six […]

• Charles Kauffman
• June 17, 2019

GECAS firms up options for 10 737-800BCFs, adds 15 more

GECAS firmed up ten existing options for 737-800BCF conversions and added options for fifteen more in an agreement with Boeing signed today at the Paris Air Show [FATs 004945-4969]. Following today’s deal, GECAS’ orderbook for 737-800BCF conversions stands at forty-five firm, with options for twenty additional conversions. Accounting for GECAS’ latest -800BCF redelivery, the lessor’s firm […]

• Charles Kauffman and Jeff Lee
• June 17, 2019

Boeing redelivers 737-800BCF at Paris Air Show

In what is perhaps a preview of what’s to come later this week at the Paris Air Show, Boeing just redelivered a 737-800BCF (32663, ex-Jet Airways) to GECAS [FATs 004936-4937]. Images of the aircraft in Prime Air livery appeared earlier today on Boeing’s Twitter account. The aircraft will be on display at the show, which […]

• Charles Kauffman
• June 16, 2019

South African to downsize freighter fleet after ceasing overnight cargo ops

South African Airways (SAA) is preparing to return a 737-300F (24278) that was ACMI-leased from Star Air Cargo [FAT 004934]. The move follows the termination of SAA’s overnight freighter operations, the carrier tells Cargo Facts. For now, the South African carrier will continue to operate a pair of freighter-converted 737-300Fs, but is evaluating modernization options. […]

• Jeff Lee
• June 14, 2019

Volga-Dnepr firms up order for nine 777Fs

Less than one year after expressing interest in the 777F platform, a UK offshoot of the Russia-based Volga-Dnepr Group has firmed up an order for nine 777Fs. Although the deal was finalized in December 2018, the order from Volga-Dnepr UK Ltd. is only now surfacing in a recent update to Boeing’s order book. While a […]

• Charles Kauffman
• June 13, 2019