Pandemic to boost feedstock availability for conversions [VIDEO]

• Charles Kauffman
• April 2, 2020
• Aircraft, All Posts, Conversions, Editorial, Equipment, Narrowbody Conversions, News, Video, Webinars, Widebody Conversions

Although passenger aviation faces the grim reality that it may take two to three years for traffic to bounce back to 2019 levels, feedstock for new and upcoming conversion programs, such as the 737-800 and A321-200, will soon be available at price points viable for conversion, said Doug Kelly, senior vice president of asset valuation […]

Atlas Air begins reactivating stored 747s

• Jeff Lee
• April 2, 2020
• Aircraft, Capacity & Demand, Carriers, Conversions, Equipment, Logistics, News, Production Freighters, Strategy, Widebody Conversions

Atlas Air has started to bring its converted 747-400Fs out of storage to handle the surge in demand for freighter capacity. One of the four freighter-converted aircraft previously parked by Atlas, a 747-400BCF (24833) was ferried from Marana (MZJ) to Los Angeles (LAX) on April 1, after being stored in MZJ since Jan. 2. The […]

Join our ‘Aircraft Values in the Age of Coronavirus’ Zoom meeting (Subscribers Only)

• Charles Kauffman
• April 2, 2020
• Aircraft, All Posts, Conversions, Editorial, Equipment, Narrowbody Conversions, News, Strategy, Webinars, Widebody Conversions

Cargo Facts will hold a Zoom meeting today at 11:30 ET to discuss the implications of the coronavirus pandemic on values for freighters and conversion feedstock. The Zoom meeting will feature Doug Kelly, senior vice president of asset valuation at AVITAS. He will provide analysis on how past crises have affected aircraft values and will […]

AA to retire dozens of 737s, releasing more feedstock

• Jeff Lee
• April 1, 2020
• Aircraft, Carriers, Conversions, Editorial, Equipment, Logistics, Narrowbody Conversions, News, Strategy, Widebody Conversions

American Airlines is reportedly planning to retire seventy-six 737-800s, nine A330-300s and twenty E190s in light of the COVID-19 crisis, making a large batch of potential conversion feedstock available. American Airlines President Robert Isom shared the plans during a video session with employees during the weekend, according to Reuters. Although no precise timeline for the […]

Air Hong Kong adds second own-operated A330F

• Jeff Lee
• March 30, 2020
• Aircraft, Carriers, Conversions, Editorial, Equipment, Express, Logistics, News, Production Freighters, Strategy, Widebody Conversions

Air Hong Kong (AHK) has transferred a second A330F to its own air operator’s certificate (AOC). While the first was a freighter-converted A330-300F (116, ex-Malaysia Airlines), the latest is a production A330-200F (1414, ex-ASL Airlines Ireland). Unit 1414 is one of five production A330-200Fs DHL Express acquired from Abu Dhabi-based Etihad in 2018. It was handed over […]

Wallace on Kalitta’s COVID-19 operations

• Jeff Lee
• March 27, 2020
• Aircraft, Capacity & Demand, Carriers, Conversions, Editorial, Equipment, Podcast, Production Freighters, Strategy, Widebody Conversions

For a cargo carrier like U.S.-based Kalitta Air, which specializes in ACMI and charter operations, the COVID-19 pandemic and its ensuing capacity crunch has resulted in extremely high fleet utilization, as shippers and forwarders have turned to freighter operators for help in flying their freight. Of course, one factor working in Kalitta’s favor is its […]

Crew safety amid pandemic challenges cargo carriers

• Charles Kauffman
• March 26, 2020
• All Posts, Conversions, Editorial, Equipment, Exclusive, Narrowbody Conversions, News, Widebody Conversions

Sweden-headquartered West Atlantic Group is rethinking the process of crew transport, and preparing contingency plans to maintain its operational commitments during the COVID-19 outbreak. With increasing travel restrictions and dwindling passenger transport systems, crew transport and safety now loom among the most significant challenges to keeping the air cargo supply chain functioning amid the COVID-19 […]

Freighters carry medical aid from China to Europe

• Jeff Lee
• March 25, 2020
• Aircraft, Capacity & Demand, Carriers, Conversions, Editorial, Equipment, Logistics, Narrowbody Conversions, News, Production Freighters, Strategy, Widebody Conversions

As the COVID-19 crisis worsens in Europe, a plethora of medical equipment and aid is now being flown in from China by a range of freighter aircraft, whether production, converted or makeshift. ASL Airlines Belgium is currently operating ten flights a week using 747-400Fs between Liege and China. While these flights transported medical supplies from […]