Sine Draco acquires an A321-200, prepares to induct conformity aircraft

• Charles Kauffman
• February 13, 2020
• Aircraft, All Posts, Conversions, Exclusive, Freighter Aircraft Transactions, Narrowbody Conversions, News

Today, Sine Draco Aviation Technology acquired its first A321-200 (963, ex-AtlasGlobal) [FAT 005332]. The airframe, purchased from AerCap, will become the conformity aircraft for Sine Draco’s in-development A321-200SDF passenger-to-freighter conversion program. Sine Draco, which has offices in China and the United States, announced the fourteen-pallet A321-200SDF in 2018. The company is utilizing its own engineering […]

First A321P2F takes to the skies

• Jeff Lee
• January 22, 2020
• Aircraft, Conversions, Engines, Equipment, Narrowbody Conversions, News

The very first freighter-converted A321-200F became airborne today, carrying out its first post-conversion flight over Singapore for approximately twenty minutes. The test confirms that the aircraft (835, ex-Onur Air) has finally received its two IAE V2500 engines. In October 2019, Elbe Flugzeugwerke (EFW), the joint venture between Airbus and ST Aerospace, said the Supplemental Type […]

ULS looks to add narrowbody freighters

• Jeff Lee
• January 16, 2020
• Aircraft, Carriers, Conversions, Equipment, Narrowbody Conversions, News, Strategy, Widebody Conversions

Turkey-based ULS Airlines Cargo is now looking to narrowbody freighters to renew and expand its fleet. The carrier told Cargo Facts that due to the changing market it plans to introduce two A321Fs and two A330Fs within the next four years, subject to feedstock prices. ULS said this would be the first phase of its fleet […]

Second EFW A321P2F heads to conversion facility in Singapore

• Jeff Lee
• December 27, 2019
• Aircraft, Conversions, Narrowbody Conversions, News, Strategy

An A321-200 (1238, ex-Thomas Cook Airlines) that will become Elbe Flugzeugwerke’s (EFW) second A321P2F was ferried to Singapore (XSP) on Christmas Day. San Francisco-headquartered BBAM confirmed to Cargo Facts that it is managing this aircraft and that it will soon be inducted for conversion into freighter configuration [FAT 005272]. The 20-year-old A321 was stored in Manchester […]

New conversion programs to shake up market for cargo loading systems?

• Charles Kauffman and Jeff Lee
• December 9, 2019
• Aircraft, Conversions, Equipment, Features, Narrowbody Conversions, Widebody Conversions

With A320-family and 777 passenger-to-freighter conversion programs being developed by a number of different STC holders, the market for cargo loading systems (CLS) could see somewhat of a shakeup. At present, just a handful of companies manufacture maindeck CLS for freighter conversion – a situation that is not expected to change. New conversion programs, however, offer a chance of market share redistribution for the […]

Diversification, robust demand for 767Fs elevate ATSG 3Q19 results

• Jeff Lee
• November 7, 2019
• Aircraft, Capacity & Demand, Carriers, Conversions, Earnings, Narrowbody Conversions, News, Widebody Conversions

Air Transport Services Group (ATSG) reported an increase in customer revenue for the third quarter of 2019 of 79% year-over-year to US$366.1 million, partly because of the acquisition of Omni Air International in November 2018 but also because of strong demand for ATSG’s 767 freighters and flight operations. Operating income rose by almost 52% compared […]

CFS 2019: Program delays and tight feedstock supply constrain in-flux narrowbody conversion market

• Charles Kauffman
• October 22, 2019
• Aircraft, Cargo Facts Symposium, Carriers, Conversions, Equipment, Exclusive, Narrowbody Conversions

SAN DIEGO – Conversion houses and OEMs have developed, or are in various stages of developing, a new generation of narrowbody freighter conversion programs based on the A320-family and 737-NG platforms. Although operator demand remains strong, redeliveries have yet to reach their full potential, according to panelists on a conversion panel last week at Cargo […]

Vallair expanding engine portfolio to support narrowbody freighter conversions

• Charles Kauffman
• October 21, 2019
• Aircraft, Cargo Facts Symposium, Conversions, Narrowbody Conversions, News, Sponsored, Video

Luxembourg-based Vallair, which signed on as the launch customer for A321 passenger-to-freighter conversion programs with both EFW and 321 Precision Conversions, is set to begin placing freighter-converted A321s with Qantas Freight and other carriers next year. Although sourcing suitable engines for 737 NG and A320-family narrowbody aircraft remains a challenge, the leasing and trading company […]