PSI Air 2007 acquires first 737F, looks to add more

• Jeff Lee
• August 28, 2019
• Aircraft, All Posts, Carriers, Conversions, Features, Freighter Aircraft Transactions, Narrowbody Conversions, News, Strategy

Philippines-based cargo airline PSI Air 2007 has added its first 737 freighter [FAT 005107]. The aircraft, a 737-300QC (23809, ex-Thai Express Air) manufactured in 1987, was ferried from U-Tapao (UTP) to Clark (CRK) earlier this month. PSI Air 2007 tells Cargo Facts that it decided to acquire the 737 platform almost a year ago, as […]

China Postal receives first 737-800BCF

• Charles Kauffman
• August 8, 2019
• Aircraft, All Posts, Capacity & Demand, Carriers, E-Commerce, Express, Features, Freighter Aircraft Transactions, News, Strategy

Earlier this week, China Postal Airlines took redelivery of its first 737-800BCF (30786, ex-China Southern Airlines), on lease from BBAM [FATs 005087-005088]. The air arm of China Post expects to become the first 737-800BCF operator in China, though we note it was not actually the first Chinese carrier to take redelivery of a -800BCF. That […]

Mongolian acquiring second 737F, planning 767Fs

• Jeff Lee
• August 7, 2019
• Aircraft, All Posts, Capacity & Demand, Carriers, Features, Narrowbody Conversions, News, Strategy

Startup carrier Mongolian Airways Cargo, which just last month received its first aircraft, a 737-300F (25172, ex-China Postal Airlines), is acquiring its second 737-300F and is expecting to add it into the fleet early next month after maintenance work is completed. The company is also looking at 767 freighters as part of its business plan. […]

YTO eyes widebodies while ATSG eyes new customers in Far East

• Jeff Lee
• August 6, 2019
• Aircraft, All Posts, Capacity & Demand, Carriers, Express, Features, Strategy

Chinese express carrier YTO Cargo Airlines is exploring the possibility of adding widebody freighters that can carry 50-60 tonnes, the airline tells Cargo Facts. This would represent a big step for YTO, which currently operates a fleet consisting of seven 737-300Fs and five 757-200Fs. Although YTO said that it still hadn’t reached a decision on which […]

Mongolian startup adds first 737-300F to AOC, but will it make freighters work in Mongolia?

• Charles Kauffman
• July 24, 2019
• All Posts, Carriers, Features

On July 20, a 737-300F (25172, ex-China Postal Airlines) landed in Ulaanbaatar (ULN) on delivery to startup carrier Mongolian Airways Cargo. Long-term plans call for the conversion of at least two more 737-300s to support continued growth of the fleet, a source familiar with the startup’s plans told Cargo Facts. Once operational, the aircraft will […]

Freighter aircraft leasing part II: E-commerce behind growing leasing market

• Jeff Lee
• July 19, 2019
• Carriers, Conversions, Features, Freighter Fleet Analysis, Strategy

Last week, we began our two-part annual analysis of the increasingly complex world of freighter aircraft leasing. In part I, we started with an overview of how the freighter fleet belonging to lessors has evolved since our analysis a year ago. In part II, we consider the leased fleet by carrier, and how year-over-year shifts […]

PEMCO prepares to convert fourth 737-300 for Rostrum Leasing

• Jeff Lee
• July 12, 2019
• Aircraft, All Posts, Conversions, Features, Freighter Aircraft Transactions, Narrowbody Conversions, News, Strategy

On July 10, a 737-300 (27710, ex-Southwest) was ferried from storage in Victorville (VCV) to Tampa (TPA). PEMCO Conversions confirmed to Cargo Facts that this aircraft is due to be inducted for conversion into freighter configuration at its TPA facility, and that the customer will be Ireland-based Rostrum Leasing. PEMCO said that unit 27710 will […]

Qantas looks to replace aging 737-300SFs

• Jeff Lee
• July 5, 2019
• Aircraft, All Posts, Carriers, E-Commerce, Express, Features, News, Strategy

Australian carrier Qantas Freight is currently planning the renewal of its narrowbody freighter jet fleet, consisting of four 737-300SFs (23478, 23486, 23488 and 23490) and one 737-400SF (24796). While the company didn’t specify which types are being considered, it confirmed to Cargo Facts that the older of its 737-300SFs “will start to be replaced over […]