ASL Aviation Holdings acquired by private equity firm, will rapid fleet growth continue?

Ireland-based ASL Aviation Holdings, no stranger to acquisitions, announced its intent to be purchased by private equity firm Star Capital Partnership LLP for an undisclosed amount. In recent years, the ASL Group, which owns or holds stakes in cargo and passenger airlines based in Europe, Africa, and Asia, has grown rapidly by gobbling up complementary […]

• Charles Kauffman
• February 13, 2019

New cargo startup, more freighters for China

Today, the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) approved the establishment of a new Chinese cargo carrier, Zhongzhou Airlines Co., Ltd., that will be based out of Zhengzhou Airport (CGO). The airport, which also serves as Cargolux’s China hub, seems to be gaining traction as a hub in the domestic Chinese cargo landscape. Zhongzhou Airlines is […]

• Chelsea Toczauer
• January 31, 2019

After record 2018, Boeing expects ‘moderated’ freighter orders in 2019

During today’s earnings call to discuss 4Q 2018 results, Boeing President and CEO Dennis Muilenburg said that following the strong showing of freighter orders in 2018 – a record of eighty-three production and forty-one conversion orders – the manufacturer “expects to see new order intake to be moderated, but still at a healthy pace” for […]

• Caryn Livingston
• January 30, 2019

The widebody freighter fleet part II: fastest-growing carrier fleets

We began this year’s analysis of the worldwide widebody freighter fleet yesterday, with a look at the composition of the fleet on a carrier-by-carrier basis. You can review part I here. Here in part II, we look at what has changed within the fleet, and growth by carrier. In part III, we conclude with a review […]

• Charles Kauffman
• January 29, 2019

Boeing’s autonomous aircraft prototype completes first flight [VIDEO]

A prototype autonomous passenger air vehicle (PAV), developed by Boeing subsidiary Aurora Flight Sciences under the leadership of the Boeing NeXt division, successfully completed its first test flight in Virginia this week. Although the PAV is designed for passenger transport, the technology presents major opportunities for the future of autonomous and remote pilot cargo operations. […]

• Caryn Livingston
• January 25, 2019

Asia Pacific carriers boost 757-200F fleets

Guam-based Asia Pacific Airlines acquired a 757-200 (25140, ex-OpenSkies) on lease from Aerolease Aviation, and ferried it to Flightstar Aviation in Jacksonville, where the aircraft was inducted for conversion to freighter configuration by Precision Aircraft Solutions yesterday. This induction follows recent news from Brisbane-based Pacific Air Express that it plans to resume freighter ops following […]

• Charles Kauffman
• January 23, 2019

Lufthansa Cargo to boost 777F capacity through AeroLogic with additional order

Lufthansa Cargo will lease an additional 777F from Boeing, to be operated by AeroLogic, a 50/50 joint venture between DHL Express and Lufthansa Cargo, later this fall ahead of the 2019 peak season, the carrier announced today. This latest order brings the total number of 777Fs Lufthansa Cargo and its JV carrier AeroLogic plan to […]

• Charles Kauffman
• January 16, 2019

AirBridgeCargo volume growth slows in 2018

Volga-Dnepr Group’s Russian subsidiary AirBridgeCargo Airlines (ABC) reported a 2% increase in its year-over-year cargo handle, to more than 700,000 tonnes – likely lagging behind industry average growth rates of around 4%, and well off from recent years for which double-digit growth was the norm for ABC. On a higher note, growth rates for the […]

• Caryn Livingston
• January 14, 2019