YTO and VietJet partnership signals future China-Vietnam ACMI opportunities

• Charles Kauffman
• November 20, 2019
• Carriers, News, Strategy

A delegation from YTO Dragon Investment, the investment arm of Hangzhou-based YTO Express, was in Ho Chi Minh City (SGN) this week to sign a strategic cooperation agreement with low-cost carrier VietJet Air.  Alignment with YTO opens up the possibility of freighter flights between China and Vietnam operated by YTO’s airline affiliate, YTO Cargo Airlines, sources familiar with the agreement tell Cargo Facts. The airline has five […]

Lockheed Martin certifies LM-100J, pushes first delivery to 2020

• Charles Kauffman
• November 19, 2019
• Aircraft, All Posts, Editorial, Equipment, Production Freighters

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) issued a type certificate for Lockheed Martin’s LM-100J, the updated commercial variant of the C-130J “Super Hercules.” With the certification, the aircraft is now cleared to operate at any commercial airfield worldwide and deliveries can commence. While the first delivery to launch operator Pallas Aviation had been expected by year-end […]

Uni-top grounds fleet as it seeks new investors as part of restructure

• Jeff Lee
• November 19, 2019
• Aircraft, Carriers, Equipment, Logistics, News, Strategy, Widebody Conversions

Wuhan-based Uni-top Airlines’ fleet of freighters is currently grounded as the carrier faces financial difficulties and looks to restructure. According to Chinese business news outlet Yicai, the company has suspended all operations and has parked or returned its aircraft off lease. The last aircraft to have stopped flying appears to have been unit 763, which […]

ASL Airlines Europe CEO joins Cargo Facts EMEA 2020 speaker faculty

• Charles Kauffman
• November 19, 2019
• Cargo Facts EMEA, Carriers, Events

Colin Grant, CEO of ASL Airlines Europe, has joined the Cargo Facts EMEA 2020 speaker faculty. Overseeing four airlines operating in Europe with more than 100 aircraft ranging in size from a turboprop to a 747-400F, Grant will offer insights into the appeal of active and in-development freighter conversion programs on a roundtable panel titled, “New […]

October 2019 cargo traffic: Peak is present, but it’s no 2018

• Charles Kauffman
• November 18, 2019
• Carriers

Many of the world’s major carriers have now reported their results for October 2019 cargo traffic, and, as shown in the chart at right, annual comparisons are not spectacular. Peak season has been strong in recent years, and cargo traffic rose 3.1% year-over-year in October 2018. Air cargo demand in October 2019, although lackluster compared to last […]

CAM receives second ex-ANA 767BCF to be placed with UPS

• Jeff Lee
• November 18, 2019
• Aircraft, Carriers, Conversions, News, Widebody Conversions

Air Transport Services Group’s (ATSG) leasing arm Cargo Aircraft Management (CAM) has taken redelivery of the second 767-300BCF (24632) it acquired from Japanese carrier ANA Cargo and plans to lease to Atlanta-based UPS. The aircraft was ferried from Tokyo (HND) to Wilmington (ILN) via Anchorage (ANC), arriving on the morning of Nov. 15. Unit 24632, which […]

Will growth in the US Domestic Air Express market continue?

• Frederic Horst
• November 15, 2019
• Cargo Facts Consulting, E-Commerce, Express, News, Strategy

Average shipment growth in the past five years accelerated to 3.4% and in 2019 we expect a whopping 9.2%. This compares to average growth of 0.1% per year in the 10 years prior, during which the market experienced poor economic conditions, a decline of document traffic, and the withdrawal of DHL Express following its failed […]

DHL’s Olin on fleet growth for Latin American express hub

• Charles Kauffman
• November 15, 2019
• Aircraft, Carriers, Conversions, Equipment, News, Podcast, Widebody Conversions

On Oct. 27, DHL Express took redelivery of a 767-300BCF (28042, ex-Air Italy) following conversion to freighter configuration by Boeing at the SASCO facility in Singapore [FAT 005220]. The aircraft was ferried to Panama, where it is being registered on the air operator’s certificate (AOC) of DHL’s Panama-based airline, DHL Aero Expreso. When the aircraft goes into service, which […]