European freighter fleet analysis (Part I): 737 Classics drive growth, for now

• Charles Kauffman and Jeff Lee
• December 23, 2019
• Aircraft, Carriers, Features, Freighter Fleet Analysis, Narrowbody Conversions, Narrowbody Fleet Analysis

In a year as tumultuous as 2019, it’s encouraging to see that European carriers continued to add freighter aircraft. Today we begin an analysis which will take a closer look at these fleets, starting with narrowbody jets in Part I and moving to widebodies in Part II. To begin with, we note that for this […]

Boeing ousts CEO Dennis Muilenburg over 737 MAX crisis

• Bloomberg News
• December 23, 2019
• Bloomberg, Equipment

(Bloomberg) — Dennis Muilenburg was ousted as chief executive officer of Boeing Co., a once-unthinkable turning point for a U.S. industrial champion engulfed in turmoil after two deadly crashes of its top-selling 737 MAX jetliner. David Calhoun, a General Electric Co. veteran who had served as chairman since October, will replace Muilenburg as CEO and […]

DHL hands over third converted 767-300F to Kalitta

• Jeff Lee
• December 20, 2019
• Aircraft, Carriers, Conversions, Freighter Aircraft Transactions, News, Strategy, Widebody Conversions

DHL Express has taken redelivery of a 767-300BDSF (27686, ex-Royal Air Maroc) and subsequently handed it over to U.S.-based Kalitta Air to be operated on a CMI basis [FATs 005264-005265]. The 767 was ferried to Mexico City (MEX) in March 2019 to be inducted for conversion into freighter configuration by Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) at the Mexicana MRO Services facility. […]

Central Airlines nears Chinese AOC

• Jeff Lee
• December 20, 2019
• Aircraft, Carriers, Narrowbody Conversions, News, Strategy

Zhengzhou-based startup carrier Central Airlines (“Zhongzhou” in Mandarin) is one step closer to launch. The Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) issued a notice on Dec. 18 saying that it had received the carrier’s application for an AOC and that all preparatory work at the carrier had been completed. This is seen as the final step […]

PEMCO’s 737-700 FlexCombi completes FAA certification flights, nears STC

• Charles Kauffman
• December 19, 2019
• Aircraft, Conversions, Equipment, Narrowbody Conversions

Yesterday, PEMCO completed flight testing with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) for its 737-700 FlexCombi conversion program. The conformity aircraft (30293, an ex-Yakutia) landed in Tampa (TPA) at 3:53PM local time after passing a smoke intrusion test – the last in a series of flight tests with the FAA ahead of the program’s receipt of […]

IAI looks to add European conversion site

• Jeff Lee
• December 19, 2019
• Aircraft, Conversions, Equipment, Narrowbody Conversions, News, Strategy, Widebody Conversions

Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) is exploring the possibility of adding conversion lines at the Aviatic MRO facility at Siauliai International Airport (SQQ) in Lithuania. The Aviatic MRO facility occupies an area of 471 hectares at SQQ, which is located in northern Lithuania. The facility is operational 24/7, has no noise restrictions, and is capable of […]

Bain invests in Atlas’ leasing business to launch cargo JV

• Charles Kauffman and Jeff Lee
• December 18, 2019
• Aircraft, Conversions, News, Production Freighters, Strategy

Titan Aviation Holdings, the leasing subsidiary of Atlas Air Worldwide, and Bain Capital Credit today announced plans to establish a joint venture to develop a freighter aircraft leasing portfolio with a valuation of approximately $1 billion. Both companies will provide equity capital, with Bain and Titan initially contributing $360 million and $40 million, respectively. Long-term, […]

FedEx falls hard in its latest earnings report

• Cathy Roberson
• December 18, 2019
• Earnings, Express

FedEx reported a surprising fiscal second-quarter decline in revenue and operating income during Tuesday’s earnings call in which CEO Fred Smith described the quarter (period ending November 30) as an anomaly. Smith reminded those on the call of the shorter holiday season that required planning and expenses to handle volumes that would fall during the […]