Overheard at Cargo Facts Symposium Part II: A bright future for 737 NG conversions

SAN DIEGO – Yesterday, we started our two-part coverage of our annual “Overheard at Cargo Facts Symposium” review. You can revisit that story here. Today, in part II we take a look at what’s happening in the conversion market and what’s ahead for e-commerce. Think 737 Classic conversions are over? Not so fast! Despite a […]

• Caryn Livingston
• October 16, 2018

Cargo Facts 2018: Which engine will drive the narrowbody conversion market?

SAN DIEGO – Major conversion houses agreed that, more than shortages in aircraft feedstock, the difficulty in sourcing aircraft engines at reasonable prices for passenger-to-freighter conversions will more significantly limit the number of conversions during the next few years, speakers at today’s Cargo Facts Symposium said. Responding to a question on how many conversions available […]

• Caryn Livingston
• October 12, 2018

Uni-Top Airlines adds sixth A300-600F

Yesterday, Uni-Top Airlines took redelivery of its sixth passenger-to-freighter converted A300-600F (741, ex-China Eastern), after its conversion at the EFW facility in Dresden. The aircraft is now headed to the Guangzhou Aircraft Maintenance Engineering Co, Ltd (GAMECO) facility for painting before it enters operations. The China-based carrier announced plans to add converted A300Fs into its […]

• Caryn Livingston
• October 8, 2018

ATSG’s new pipeline for 767 feedstock

Yesterday, when Ohio-based Air Transport Services Group, Inc. (ATSG) made the surprise announcement that it would be acquiring Oklahoma-based Omni Air, entry into the 777 operating platform stood out as the most interesting opportunity for ATSG – particularly at a time when some of the company’s current CMI clients, like DHL Express, are poised to […]

• Charles Kauffman
• October 3, 2018

SpiceJet adds maiden 737 NG freighter, more on the way

Today, India-based low-cost carrier SpiceJet took redelivery of its maiden freighter, a Bedek Aviation Group-converted 737-700BDSF (29042, ex-Xiamen Airlines), to support the launch of a newly created cargo subsidiary, SpiceXpress. The aircraft, on-lease from Spectre Cargo, is the first of four Spectre-leased 737 NG freighters SpiceXpress plans to put into service over the next few […]

• Charles Kauffman
• September 10, 2018

West Atlantic to operate 737-400Fs for FedEx

Sweden-based West Atlantic Group, parent of West Atlantic, a European cargo airline specializing in mail and express logistics announced in March 2018 that its four forthcoming 737-800BCFS would operate “on behalf of an express logistics provider in its current EU-network,” with the last aircraft entering into service in the first quarter of 2019. Yesterday, concurrently with […]

• Charles Kauffman
• August 31, 2018

China Postal Airlines’ parent planning IPO, and fleet expansion?

China Postal Express & Logistics Co., Ltd (EMS), a subsidiary of Beijing-based China Post, which owns a number of logistics companies, including China Postal Airlines and China Post Logistics, is planning to execute an IPO within three years. China Post Chairman, Liu Aili, announced the subsidiary’s intention to go public last week during a signing […]

• Charles Kauffman
• August 27, 2018

China’s largest 757F operator prepares for more

On 21 August, ST Aerospace Engineering redelivered a freighter-converted 757-200SF to Shenzhen-based SF Airlines (27806, ex-American Airlines) following conversion at the company’s Seletar MRO facility. The rapidly-growing express carrier has at least four more aircraft in conversion with ST Aerospace Engineering and Precision Aircraft Solutions, and at least six more conversions beyond that. For the […]

• Charles Kauffman
• August 23, 2018

Aviastar-TU sees more 757Fs on the horizon

After taking delivery of a 757-200PCF (25731, ex-American Airlines) on-lease from New Zealand-based Airwork this month, Russia-based Aviastar-TU confirmed to Cargo Facts that it plans to add another freighter-converted 757-200PCF later this year, and possibly more in 2019. The carrier’s second 757-200 (25696) is already in conversion with Precision Aircraft Solutions at the Aersale facility in […]

• Caryn Livingston
• August 22, 2018

Hawaiian Airlines puts first two ATR 72-200Fs into scheduled service

The regional carrier of Hawaiian Airlines, Ohana, has launched scheduled inter-island cargo flights to Lihue (LIH) and Hilo (ITO) from its base at Honolulu Airport (HNL), with a pair of ATR 72-200Fs operated by Idaho-based Empire Airlines. Although Ohana’s first ATR 72-200F arrived in Hawaii last year, the carrier has only utilized the aircraft for test […]

• Charles Kauffman
• August 17, 2018