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 […]

Flexport’s own-controlled 747F service ends

• Jeff Lee
• January 10, 2020
• Aircraft, Capacity & Demand, Carriers, Equipment, News, Production Freighters, Strategy

Flexport will be terminating its own-controlled 747-400F operation on Jan. 25. From that day onward, the forwarder will instead be moving to an asset-light model, having entered into a series of block space agreement with Plus Logistics, wholly owned subsidiary of Nippon Cargo Airlines (NCA). Flexport told Cargo Facts that, while the move was part of […]

CargoLogic Germany joins Cargo Facts EMEA speaker faculty

• Jeff Lee
• January 10, 2020
• Cargo Facts EMEA, Carriers, Strategy

Johannes Jähn, managing director of CargoLogic Germany (CLG), will be joining Cargo Facts EMEA 2020 as a speaker in Session 3. This session will cover topics such as trends in the express market in the EMEA region, as well as e-commerce and freighter aircraft developments. As one of the newest freighter operators in Europe with […]

Air Atlanta Icelandic looks to 777 platform

• Jeff Lee
• January 9, 2020
• Aircraft, Carriers, Conversions, News, Production Freighters, Strategy, Widebody Conversions

Air Atlanta Icelandic could soon be adding 777s to the list of aircraft it operates. The Iceland-based carrier has begun recruiting 777 type-rated captains and first officers through Confair, a Dutch recruitment agency for cockpit crew, flight attendants and technical maintenance personnel. According to the job description, this new batch of pilots will be based […]

Elroy Air and EmbraerX partner to advance commercial cargo drones

• Caryn Livingston
• January 9, 2020
• Equipment, News

Embraer’s innovation-focused subsidiary EmbraerX and cargo drone developer Elroy Air announced a collaboration agreement Wednesday. The partnership gives EmbraerX access to the commercial air cargo market and gives Elroy Air access to Embraer’s expertise in technical development of aviation equipment. The deal came about over the past year as an opportunity for Embraer to enter […]

Air Hong Kong transfers first A330F to own AOC

• Jeff Lee
• January 8, 2020
• Aircraft, Carriers, Conversions, Engines, Equipment, Express, News, Strategy, Widebody Conversions

Air Hong Kong (AHK) has completed the transfer of an A330-300P2F to its own AOC. The aircraft (116, ex-Malaysia Airlines) is the first A330 freighter to be added to the wholly owned Cathay Pacific subsidiary’s AOC, and was previously operated by ASL Airlines Ireland. While AHK couldn’t immediately be reached for comment, the carrier previously […]

Airlines divert flights from Iran and Iraq airspace after missile attacks

• Bloomberg News
• January 8, 2020
• Bloomberg, News

(Bloomberg)–Airlines around the world diverted flights from the airspace over Iran, Iraq, and the Persian Gulf after Tehran fired more than a dozen missiles at U.S. forces in the region. In the wake of the attack, carriers ranging from Singapore Airlines Ltd. and Qantas Airways Ltd. to Air France-KLM and Deutsche Lufthansa AG have said […]