Production A330F backlog dwindles

• Jeff Lee
• January 17, 2020
• Aircraft, Carriers, Conversions, Equipment, News, Widebody Conversions

Colombia-based Synergy Aerospace Corporation, one of only two remaining customers with the production A330-200F on order, canceled its order for a single frame in December, according to Airbus’ orders and deliveries tally for 2019. Synergy is the majority shareholder of Avianca Holdings, which operates six A330-200Fs through its Avianca Cargo subsidiary. This leaves the A330-200F […]

ULS looks to add narrowbody freighters

• Jeff Lee
• January 16, 2020
• Aircraft, Carriers, Conversions, Equipment, Narrowbody Conversions, News, Strategy, Widebody Conversions

Turkey-based ULS Airlines Cargo is now looking to narrowbody freighters to renew and expand its fleet. The carrier told Cargo Facts that due to the changing market it plans to introduce two A321Fs and two A330Fs within the next four years, subject to feedstock prices. ULS said this would be the first phase of its fleet […]

ACIA acquires IPR’s conversion and leasing business

• Jeff Lee
• January 15, 2020
• Aircraft, Conversions, Equipment, Narrowbody Conversions, News, Strategy

ACIA Aero Capital has acquired an additional 33.34% stake in IPR Conversions and IPR Leasing from IPR Invest. ACIA, which has leasing, maintenance and parts subsidiaries, had been a minority stakeholder in IPR and now becomes the sole owner of IPR’s conversion and leasing businesses covering ATR series aircraft. Christian Degouy, former managing director of […]

Four startups named in Cargo Facts EMEA’s 2020 DEMOvation Challenge

• Gennette Cordova
• January 14, 2020
• Cargo Facts EMEA, News

Cargo Facts is pleased to announce four of the six startups chosen to provide live demonstrations and compete during the DEMOVation session at its upcoming Cargo Facts EMEA 2020. The second-annual edition of the conference, focused on innovation in airfreight, will be presented Feb. 3-5 at the Westin Grand, in Frankfurt. The first four companies […]

DHL to add a pair of 737-800Fs

• Charles Kauffman
• January 14, 2020
• Aircraft, Conversions, Equipment, Exclusive, Narrowbody Conversions, News

DHL Express plans to add to its fleet a pair of freighter-converted 737-800BDSFs, Cargo Facts has learned. Both aircraft are owned by Spectre Air Capital and were converted to freighter configuration by Israel Aerospace Industries’ Aviation Group, or IAI, at the company’s MRO facility in Tel Aviv (TLV). Following conversion, the aircraft (28619, ex-Pegasus and […]

STC granted for AEI’s 737-800SF conversion

• Gennette Cordova
• January 14, 2020
• Aircraft, Conversions, Equipment, Narrowbody Conversions, News

The Civil Aviation Administration of China has issued Aeronautical Engineers Inc. (AEI) a Supplemental Type Certificate for its 737-800 passenger-to-freighter conversion program, the 737-800SF, AEI announced yesterday.  The STC validates the original FAA-issued STC, which was awarded to AEI at the beginning of 2019. The European Union Aviation Safety Agency, meanwhile, has yet to issue an STC. AEI is working […]

ZTO Express’ dedicated freighter operation remains limited post-peak

• Charles Kauffman
• January 13, 2020
• Aircraft, All Posts, Carriers, Editorial, Equipment, Express, Narrowbody Conversions, News

It has only been two weeks since the start of 2020, but HNA Group affiliate Tianjin Air Cargo (TAC) has already expanded its freighter network with the launch of its first scheduled international route, a weekly flight between Zhengzhou (CGO) and Bangkok (BKK) on Jan. 8, and another between CGO and Dhaka (DAK) on Jan. […]

Airbus’ first BelugaXL enters service

• Gennette Cordova
• January 13, 2020
• Aircraft, Capacity & Demand, Editorial, Equipment, News, Production Freighters

Airbus’ first BelugaXL freighter (1853) entered service on Jan.9, as expected, two months after receiving European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) Type Certification.   The OEM stated that another five will be operational by 2023 to replace the fleet of its predecessor, the BelugaST. Airbus’ second BelugaXL (1824) has already been assembled, while the third unit (1930) is currently in production. The entire Beluga fleet is operated by Airbus […]