Cargo Facts Symposium Day 1: key takeaways

• Charles Kauffman and Jeff Lee
• October 18, 2019
• Cargo Facts Symposium, Conversions, Equipment, Narrowbody Conversions, News, Widebody Conversions

SAN DIEGO – A crowd of distinguished air cargo executives gathered for Cargo Facts Symposium 2019, held at the Intercontinental San Diego. Although the air cargo industry faces uncertainty on multiple fronts such as trade and political headwinds, and aircraft program complications, delegates remain overwhelmingly upbeat on long-term growth prospects for the industry. A few […]

GECAS and IAI partner to launch 777P2F program

• Charles Kauffman
• October 17, 2019
• Conversions, Equipment, Exclusive, News, Widebody Conversions

SAN DIEGO – GECAS and Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) announced the joint launch of a 777-300ER passenger-to-freighter conversion program yesterday, just as delegates began arriving here for Cargo Facts Symposium 2019. More than just a customer for the program, along with IAI, GECAS is co-funding the development of a Supplemental Type Certificate (STC) for the […]

The Big Three: DHL, FedEx and UPS (global express fleet – Part III)

• Charles Kauffman
• October 17, 2019
• Express Fleet Analysis, Features, Freighter Fleet Analysis, News

Earlier this week, we began our four-part analysis of the worldwide express freighter fleet. Part I offers a look at the overall fleet of jet freighters used now by the integrated express operators, and how that fleet has changed over the years. Yesterday, in Part II we examined the fleets of relative newcomers to the […]

Alaska Air eager to expand freighter fleet, faces delays due to MAX grounding

• Charles Kauffman
• October 16, 2019
• Carriers, News

Alaska Air Cargo is looking to convert at least two more 737s currently operating in its passenger fleet to freighter configuration, but told Cargo Facts the continued grounding of the 737 MAX has made it difficult to secure approval to free up 737 NG conversion feedstock from its passenger fleet.   Following the deployment of three IAI-converted 737-700Fs beginning in September 2017, […]

Movers and shakers: Amazon and Chinese Express (global express fleet – Part II)

• Charles Kauffman
• October 16, 2019
• Express Fleet Analysis, Freighter Fleet Analysis, News

Yesterday, in part I, we began our four-part analysis of the worldwide express freighter fleet.  Today in Part II, we’ll examine the fleets of relative newcomers to the industry, such as Amazon, SF Airlines and YTO Cargo Airlines. Tomorrow, Part III continues with a company-by-company overview of the three largest integrators, FedEx, UPS and DHL, […]

Emirates International Air Cargo emerges from legal limbo, prepares to launch with 737-400F

• Jeff Lee
• October 15, 2019
• Aircraft, Carriers, Conversions, Exclusive, Narrowbody Conversions, Strategy

A new cargo carrier could soon be launching freighter operations in the Middle East. Abu Dhabi-based startup Emirates International Air Cargo (EIAC) appears to have taken redelivery of its first freighter-converted 737-400F (28151, ex-Qantas), after a legal dispute between EIAC and Connecticut-based Aero Acquisitions prevented the aircraft from being redelivered for several years. Unit 28151, […]

E-commerce drives larger, increasingly modern fleet (global express fleet – Part I)

• Charles Kauffman
• October 15, 2019
• Express Fleet Analysis, Freighter Fleet Analysis

Today, we begin a four-part analysis of the worldwide express freighter fleet. Part I offers a look at the overall fleet of jet freighters used now by the integrated express operators, and how that fleet has changed over the years. Part II delves into the fleets of relative newcomers to the industry, such as Amazon, […]

Zimex expands turboprop freighter fleet with ATR 42Fs

• Jeff Lee
• October 14, 2019
• Aircraft, Carriers, Conversions, Express, Freighter Aircraft Transactions, Narrowbody Conversions, News, Strategy

Switzerland-based Zimex Aviation has in the past few months steadily ramped up its fleet with the addition of three ATR 42 freighters. The carrier had previously only operated ATR 72Fs. Zimex confirmed to Cargo Facts that it now has a total of seven converted ATR freighters – three ATR 42Fs and four ATR 72Fs, all […]