21 Air begins flying for AeroMexico Cargo [VIDEO]

• Charles Kauffman
• September 27, 2019
• Aircraft, Carriers, Conversions, Equipment, News, Widebody Conversions

Earlier this month, a 21 Air operated 767-200BDSF (23803) emerged from heavy maintenance and began operating on an ACMI-basis for AeroMéxico Cargo [FAT 005149]. Previously, ABX Air had operated a 767-200BDSF for AeroMéxico Cargo. 21 Air has a second 767-200BDSF (23801) that is finishing up a C Check in Georgia, and will soon reenter service. […]

C Cubed Aerospace inducts A320 for conversion

• Charles Kauffman
• September 26, 2019
• Conversions, Editorial, Equipment, Narrowbody Conversions

California-based C Cubed Aerospace acquired an A320 airframe and inducted the aircraft for conversion to freighter configuration at FMS in Kansas City (MCI), C Cubed confirmed to Cargo Facts. According to company estimates, touch labor is expected to wrap-up next summer, with flight tests commencing shortly after. The company would not identify an MSN, but […]

Another 747-400BCF reactivated?

• Jeff Lee
• September 26, 2019
• Aircraft, Capacity & Demand, Carriers, Strategy, Widebody Conversions

A Thai Airways 747-400BCF (24459) has just been ferried from U-Tapao Rayong Pattaya International Airport (UTP), where it had been in storage for four-and-a-half years, to Jakarta’s Soekarno-Hatta International Airport (CGK). Cargo Facts believes that this aircraft may be undergoing maintenance ahead of redelivery to another operator. Unit 24459 was originally delivered to Thai in […]

Collins Aerospace aims to complete Q300F in 4Q19, redeliver in 1Q20

• Charles Kauffman
• September 25, 2019
• Aircraft, Conversions, Equipment, Exclusive, Narrowbody Conversions

Air Inuit and Collins Aerospace inducted a Dash-8-300 (MSN 300) for large cargo door conversion in April and expects to wrap up the conversion toward the end of this year. Once the conversion, which is being performed at Air Inuit's hangar facility in Montreal, is finished, STC certification is expected in 1Q20, with the first […]

Pionair acquires three BAe 146 freighters from WDL

• Jeff Lee
• September 25, 2019
• Aircraft, Capacity & Demand, Carriers, Exclusive, Freighter Aircraft Transactions, News, Strategy

Australia-based Pionair has purchased German carrier WDL Aviation’s contingent of three BAe 146-300QT freighters, Pionair has confirmed to Cargo Facts [FATs 005144-005146]. The first aircraft (E3150, ex-ASL Airlines Spain) departed Cologne (CGN) last week and is making its way to Australia. Pionair told Cargo Facts that it expects unit E3150 to enter service within six […]

DHL-Ethiopian JV plans additional growth, but does that mean additional freighters?

• Jeff Lee
• September 24, 2019
• Aircraft, Capacity & Demand, Carriers, Narrowbody Conversions, Production Freighters, Strategy

DHL-Ethiopian Airlines Logistics Services, the joint venture between DHL Global Forwarding and Ethiopian Airlines, is looking to expand its operations in Ethiopia and has appointed Berhanu Kassa as its general manager. Kassa was previously director of logistics services at Ethiopian. While the JV isn’t solely focused on air logistics, this particular mode will be especially […]

Boeing delivers FedEx’s 43rd 777F

• Charles Kauffman
• September 24, 2019
• Aircraft, Equipment, Freighter Aircraft Transactions, News, Production Freighters

On Sept. 20, FedEx took delivery of a 777F (40672) from Boeing [FAT 005143]. The aircraft is FedEx’s 43rd 777F. According to the integrator’s latest Stat Book, as of August 2019, FedEx was committed to purchase sixteen 777Fs. Following the recent delivery, 777F commitments stand at fifteen units. We note that this figure varies slightly from […]

SpiceJet becomes first operator of both 737 NG freighter variants

• Jeff Lee
• September 23, 2019
• Aircraft, Carriers, Conversions, Freighter Aircraft Transactions, Narrowbody Conversions, Strategy

Indian carrier SpiceJet has taken redelivery of its first freighter-converted 737-800BCF for its cargo arm, SpiceXpress, becoming the first operator to have both the 737-700F and 737-800F platforms in its fleet. The aircraft is a 737-800BCF, on lease from NGF Alpha Limited, a division of Spectre Cargo Solutions [FATs 005141-005142]. SpiceJet said that the 737-800BCF […]