Grounding of IAI-converted 737s extends to 737-700s

• Jeff Lee
• December 12, 2019
• Aircraft, Carriers, Conversions, Narrowbody Conversions, News

The rigid barrier irregularity discovered by Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI), which led to Australian carrier Qantas grounding its four converted 737-300 freighters, affects more than just -300BDSFs. Alaska Airlines has also grounded its fleet of three 737-700BDSFs, which it received in 2017 and 2018. IAI told Cargo Facts that approximately 40 aircraft in total are […]

Winners and losers in e-commerce logistics as Amazon moves 1 billion lbs by air

• Frederic Horst
• December 12, 2019
• All Posts, E-Commerce, Express, News, Strategy

Amazon’s own-controlled air operation in the United States is currently about 20% the size of FedEx, and 15% the size of UPS, measured in tonnage carried. In the eight months ended August 2019, Cargo Facts Consulting estimates that Amazon moved over 1 billion pounds (more than 453,000 tonnes) on dedicated Atlas and ATSG flights, an […]

FAA Won’t Clear 737 Max Fixes Until 2020, Agency Chief Says

• Bloomberg News
• December 12, 2019
• All Posts, Bloomberg, News

U.S. government approvals needed to return Boeing Co.’s 737 Max to the skies won’t be completed until 2020, the top U.S. aviation regulator said Wednesday, dashing the company’s hopes to complete key milestones this year needed to end the aircraft’s nine-month grounding. “If you do the math, it’s going to extend into 2020,” Federal Aviation […]

Qantas grounds 737-300F fleet, manages to secure lost capacity in midst of peak

• Charles Kauffman and Jeff Lee
• December 11, 2019
• Aircraft, Carriers, Narrowbody Conversions, News

Qantas Airways grounded four 737-300BDSFs (23478, 23486, 23488 and 23490) today after Israel Aerospace Industries informed operators of an ‘apparent irregularity’ with the rigid barrier systems installed on some of its 737 Classic conversion aircraft. Although details regarding the issue are slim, IAI promised a quick fix. The company is currently working with the Civil […]

SprintAir prepares to add an ATR 72F

• Jeff Lee
• December 11, 2019
• Aircraft, Carriers, Conversions, Equipment, Express, Narrowbody Conversions, News

Poland-based SprintAir will soon add another ATR 72 freighter to its fleet, as the carrier looks to expand its cargo operations. SprintAir told Cargo Facts that it is expecting the aircraft (441) to be redelivered in January 2020 and to enter service in February. Unit 441 was the only remaining ATR 72-200 still in passenger […]

SF Airlines takes eighth freighter in 2019

• Jeff Lee
• December 10, 2019
• Aircraft, Carriers, Conversions, Express, Freighter Aircraft Transactions, Narrowbody Conversions, News, Strategy, Widebody Conversions

SF Airlines has taken redelivery of a 757-200PCF (29944, ex-TUI Airways) from Precision Aircraft Solutions [FAT 005255]. The Shenzhen (SZX)-based carrier has now added eight freighters to its fleet this year, far surpassing any other Chinese airline. Unit 29944 began its life in 1999, flying in passenger configuration until 2019. It was then inducted for […]

HNA’s SR Technics Sale Draws Airbus, Hainan Province

• Bloomberg News
• December 10, 2019
• Bloomberg, Carriers, News

HNA Group Co.’s sale of its majority stake in Swiss aircraft-maintenance firm SR Technics has attracted interest from companies including Airbus SE as well as the government of China’s Hainan province, according to people familiar with the matter. Other aircraft maintenance and repair organizations, known as MROs, have also expressed interest in acquiring SR Technics, […]

FedEx continues replacing A300Fs with 767Fs in Europe

• Jeff Lee
• December 6, 2019
• Aircraft, Carriers, Express, News, Production Freighters, Strategy

FedEx Express is expanding its own-operated capacity in its European network. The integrator has begun flying a 767-300F six times a week between its hub at Paris-Charles de Gaulle (CDG) and Milan Malpensa (MXP), replacing an A300-600F. FedEx began the deployment of 767Fs in Europe in July with a five-times-weekly route between CDG and Dublin […]