Coronavirus pressures Boeing to idle operations, cure cash bleed

• Charles Kauffman and Jeff Lee
• March 20, 2020
• Aircraft, Editorial, Equipment, News, Production Freighters

Boeing is under mounting pressure from the coronavirus outbreak to stop work at its final-assembly facilities, at least on a temporary basis. With at least three large widebody freighters on the flight line at Boeing’s Everett final assembly facility, deliveries planned in the coming weeks could be delayed. These include a China Southern Cargo 777F […]

DHL Global Forwarding declares force majeure on ocean, air shipments

• Caryn Livingston
• March 20, 2020
• All Posts, Editorial, Logistics, News, Strategy

In light of the widespread flight cancellations and delays, and cancellations of ocean vessels, DHL Global Forwarding (DGF) declared force majeure for air and ocean shipments, indicating that, due to outside events beyond the reasonable control of DHL — in this case, the coronavirus pandemic — the forwarder may face unforeseeable obstacles preventing its operations. […]

Demand for 737 Classic conversions persists

• Jeff Lee
• March 20, 2020
• News

Aeronautical Engineers Inc (AEI) will convert for Nauru Airlines a 737-300. The aircraft (28732) is currently in passenger service with the airline and will be inducted for conversion in late May at the Commercial Jet facility in Miami (MIA) [FAT 005357]. Nauru Airlines already has a single 737-300F (27125, ex-Europe Airpost), as well as three […]

Industrial output, trade holding so far, despite coronavirus pandemic [VIDEO]

• Charles Kauffman
• March 19, 2020
• Aircraft, All Posts, Cargo Facts Consulting, Editorial, Equipment, News, Video, Webinars, Widebody Conversions

Industrial output and trade has not plummeted to the same degree as passenger travel by the coronavirus pandemic as of today, Frederic Horst, managing director of Cargo Facts Consulting, said during an industry meeting convened by Cargo Facts. Cargo Facts hosted its subscribers — stakeholders from all facets of air cargo — on Thursday for […]

EFW unaffected by Italian lockdown

• Jeff Lee
• March 19, 2020
• Aircraft, Conversions, Narrowbody Conversions, News, Widebody Conversions

Despite the Italian government’s extension today of the country’s COVID-19 lockdown to April, Elbe Flugzeugwerke (EFW), which uses parts supplied from Italy for its A330P2F, remains unaffected for now. Sources close to the matter told Cargo Facts that while the conversion program is dependent on thousands of parts supplied from a range of countries, and […]

Freighters resist quarantine and spring back into action, for now

• Charles Kauffman
• March 18, 2020
• Aircraft, All Posts, Editorial, Equipment, Freighter Aircraft Transactions, News, Widebody Fleet Analysis

On March 15, ACE Belgium Freighters added to its fleet a second 747-400, an ERF variant (35169, ex-Jade Cargo) that previously operated on the AOC of affiliate carrier Israel-based CAL Cargo [FAT 005356]. After sitting idle since its ferry flight to Liege (LGG) on Feb. 2, the aircraft has since completed two roundtrip flights between […]

Qantas, KLM fly passenger aircraft as freighters, Lufthansa and IAG may follow

• Jeff Lee
• March 18, 2020
• Aircraft, Capacity & Demand, Carriers, Equipment, News, Production Freighters, Strategy, Widebody Conversions

[Note: Qantas has now decided to suspend all international passenger flying from the end of March until at least May 31, 2020.] As borders are severely restricted and passenger flights are cancelled around the world because of the COVID-19 pandemic, more airlines are beginning to operate empty passenger aircraft for the sole purpose of carrying […]

Join our ‘Airfreight in the Age of Coronavirus’ Zoom meeting (Subscribers Only)

• JJ Hornblass
• March 18, 2020
• Aircraft, Business, Capacity & Demand, Carriers, Conversions, E-Commerce, Earnings, Editorial, Engines, Equipment, Exclusive, Express, Express Fleet Analysis, Finance, Freighter Aircraft Transactions, Freighter Fleet Analysis, Logistics, Narrowbody Fleet Analysis, Production Freighters, Regional Fleet Analysis, Strategy, Widebody Fleet Analysis

[Note: This event has already occurred. The complete webinar is available to Cargo Facts subscribers here]. Cargo Facts will be holding a crucial Zoom meeting on Thursday, March 19, at 11:30 ET for subscribers only on the implications of the coronavirus pandemic on airfreight. The Zoom meeting will feature Frederic Horst, managing director of Cargo […]