Condor shifts from leisure to cargo with reconfigured 767s

• Jeff Lee
• May 4, 2020
• Aircraft, Carriers, Editorial, Equipment, News, Strategy, Widebody Conversions

Germany-based leisure airline Condor has begun operating “converted” versions of its 767-300ERs with seats removed from the passenger cabin, joining a growing list of airlines that are maximizing cargo volume during the COVID-19 crisis. Condor confirmed to Cargo Facts it has already converted four of its 767-300ERs, and plans to modify ten more aircraft. All […]

Western Global adds third 747-400F, reactivates MD-11F

• Jeff Lee
• May 4, 2020
• Aircraft, Carriers, Freighter Aircraft Transactions, News, Production Freighters, Strategy, Widebody Conversions

Western Global Airlines added to its fleet a third 747-400F and started the process of reactivating one of several stored MD-11Fs. Amid the global airfreight capacity crunch, the carrier confirmed to Cargo Facts that it took ownership of unit 29258 (ex-Atlas Air) on April 22 and will soon place it into service [FAT 005395]. The […]

Demand vs. capacity in the COVID-19 age

• Charles Kauffman
• May 1, 2020
• Aircraft, All Posts, Carriers, Equipment

March 2020 tonnage is significantly lower year over year compared to March 2019, according to reports by multiple sources, including IATA and WorldACD. Amid the coronavirus pandemic that has axed 80% of the world’s passenger flights, however, capacity is the more salient feature of the demand equation. A quick glance at the static March snapshot […]

Cargo Facts launches passenger-freighter database

• Charles Kauffman and Jeff Lee
• April 30, 2020
• Aircraft, All Posts, Equipment, Freighter Aircraft Transactions, News

Cargo Facts made available today a new passenger-freighter module within its popular freighter aircraft transaction (FAT) database. Since late March, Cargo Facts has been compiling a list of the aircraft that airlines have deployed on cargo-only missions during the COVID-19 crisis, based on information shared by airlines, handlers, forwarders, charter brokers, etc.; special cargo-only timetables; […]

Airbus SB to detail seat-to-pallet reconfiguration

• Charles Kauffman
• April 30, 2020
• Aircraft, All Posts, Carriers, Conversions, Editorial, Equipment, News, Widebody Conversions

Airbus plans to issue a service bulletin (SB) that outlines the procedure for reconfiguring passenger A330s and A350s to carry cargo on pallets that attach to the seat rails lining the passenger cabins. In parallel, the aerospace giant is working with the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) to obtain a supplemental type certificate (STC) […]

Cargolux ushers in 50th business year with 2019 net profit

• Charles Kauffman
• April 29, 2020
• All Posts, Carriers, Editorial, Equipment, News, Production Freighters

All-cargo carrier Cargolux reported a net profit of $20.2 million in 2019, on total revenues that were down 14.2% to $2.26 billion. The lower net profit represents a 90% decrease from the previous year’s net income of $211.2 million but is otherwise decent for a year that saw a 3.3% decline in overall cargo traffic, […]

Boeing to Cut Output, Thousands of Jobs on Vanishing Demand

• Bloomberg News
• April 29, 2020
• Bloomberg, News, Production Freighters

Boeing Co. unveiled deep cuts to jobs and production as the manufacturer rushes to adapt to a shrinking market for jetliners after the worst downturn in aviation history. The U.S. planemaker will pare output for wide-body jets such as the 787 Dreamliner and behemoth 777X, according to a company statement Wednesday. Production of the 737 […]

Aerotranscargo expands 747-400F fleet

• Jeff Lee
• April 29, 2020
• Aircraft, Carriers, Conversions, Editorial, Equipment, Freighter Aircraft Transactions, Logistics, News, Production Freighters, Strategy, Widebody Conversions

More 747 freighters will soon be flying again, relieving the capacity constraints brought about by the COVID-19 crisis. Moldova-based Aerotranscargo has added to its portfolio a 747-400BCF (24459, ex-Thai Cargo) which it expects to become available from May 5 [FAT 005396]. Aerotranscargo told Cargo Facts that the aircraft is dry-leased to Moldova-based Terra Avia to […]