Egyptair Cargo plans narrowbody freighter expansion

• Jeff Lee
• June 29, 2020
• Aircraft, Capacity & Demand, Carriers, Conversions, Editorial, Equipment, Narrowbody Conversions, News, Strategy, Widebody Conversions

EgyptAir Cargo is looking to enter the narrowbody space with the addition of two 737-800BCFs. The carrier currently has three freighter-converted A330-200Fs. EgyptAir Cargo told Cargo Facts it is in the process of completing the required studies and securing the conversion slots. It plans to add the two aircraft in 2021, allowing it to extend […]

DHL adds Kalitta Charters II as CMI provider

• Charles Kauffman
• June 26, 2020
• All Posts, Capacity & Demand, Conversions, Editorial, Freighter Aircraft Transactions, News

DHL Express has designated Kalitta Charters II as a CMI service provider, placing a 737-400F (26316) with the Ypsilanti-based airline [FAT 005482]. Kalitta Charters II told Cargo Facts it expects to have unit 26316 in service in the next few weeks. The aircraft was previously operated by Southern Air and was ferried from Cincinnati (CVG) […]

KF Aerospace completes first owned 737-400SF

• Jeff Lee
• June 26, 2020
• Aircraft, Carriers, Editorial, Freighter Aircraft Transactions, Narrowbody Conversions, News, Strategy

Canada-based KF Aerospace has completed the full-freighter conversion of its first owned 737-400SF [FAT 005479-005480]. The aircraft (24751, ex-Flair Airlines) is also the first 737-400F registered under a Canadian operator. KF Aerospace told Cargo Facts that unit 24751, on which work began in October 2019, is now ready for service, but declined to comment on […]

China Eastern revealed as customer behind two 777Fs

• Jeff Lee
• June 25, 2020
• Aircraft, Carriers, Editorial, Equipment, Logistics, News, Production Freighters, Strategy

The mystery is no more — the customer for the two 777Fs Volga-Dnepr Group tried to stop Boeing from selling is China Eastern. The order had been attributed to an unidentified customer in Boeing’s tally for May [FATs 005483-005484]. The first aircraft (66623) was seen returning from a test flight at Boeing’s Everett (PAE) facility, […]

Emirates to operate 10 reconfigured 777-300ERs

• Jeff Lee
• June 25, 2020
• Aircraft, Capacity & Demand, Carriers, Equipment, News, Production Freighters, Strategy, Widebody Conversions

Emirates has begun operating reconfigured 777-300ERs with seats removed to create additional cargo capacity. The airline has already modified seven aircraft, with three more to follow by mid-July. These reconfigured 777s, called “mini freighters” by Emirates SkyCargo, add to the carrier’s substantial fleet of passenger freighters — 777-300ERs that have their passenger cabins intact — […]

Cainiao to quadruple charter flights

• Charles Kauffman
• June 24, 2020
• All Posts, Capacity & Demand, Carriers, E-Commerce, Express, News, Strategy

Alibaba’s logistics affiliate Cainiao plans to quadruple international charter flight bookings to an estimated 1,260 flights over the next nine months as part of a series of investments totaling $140 million (RMB 1 billion) aimed at reducing average delivery times for its cross-border shipments. Cainiao expects the increased reliance on own-controlled charter flights to shorten […]

Pos Malaysia relaunches freighter operations with 737-400F

• Jeff Lee
• June 24, 2020
• Aircraft, Carriers, Conversions, Editorial, Express, Freighter Aircraft Transactions, Logistics, Narrowbody Conversions, News, Strategy

Malaysian postal and aviation group Pos Malaysia has restarted own-controlled freighter operations with a owned 737-400F (25099, ex-Alaska Airlines) [FAT 005474]. The 737 was the first of five ex-Alaska Airlines 737-400 combis acquired by Canada-based Avmax for conversion to full-freighter configuration by PEMCO. Unit 25099 was redelivered in June 2019 and ferried from Tampa (TPA) […]

Cargo delivers lifeline to Taiwanese cargo operators in 2020

• Charles Kauffman
• June 23, 2020
• Aircraft, Capacity & Demand, Carriers, Editorial, Equipment, News, Production Freighters, Strategy

Taiwan-based combination carrier China Airlines made an incredible pivot to cargo for the month of May 2020, reporting cargo revenue for the month up by 152.8% year-over-year. Despite reporting May passenger revenue down 96.3% year-over-year on passenger volumes that had dropped to just 9,121 from 1.3 million a year earlier, China Airlines acted more like […]