Pelita begins charter ops with second ATR 72F

• Jeff Lee
• September 11, 2020
• Aircraft, Capacity & Demand, Carriers, Editorial, Equipment, Logistics, Narrowbody Conversions, News, Strategy

Indonesia-based Pelita Air Service has begun operating its second ATR 72-500F. The carrier confirmed to Cargo Facts that the aircraft (705, ex-Mistral Air) is on lease from Nordic Aviation Capital and is being chartered by Angkasa Pura Logistics (APLOG), under an arrangement similar to Pelita’s first ATR 72-500F (746, ex-Veling), which is owned and began […]

Texel Air looks to 737-700FC for growth as utilization doubles

• Jeff Lee
• August 26, 2020
• Aircraft, Capacity & Demand, Carriers, Conversions, Editorial, Equipment, Logistics, Narrowbody Conversions, News, Strategy

Having taken delivery of its first 737-700FC (30293, an ex-Yakutia), Bahrain-based Texel Air is eager to put the aircraft’s upgraded capabilities to good use and take advantage of the high demand for cargo capacity worldwide due to the COVID-19 pandemic. George Chisholm, CEO of Chisholm Enterprises, Texel Air’s parent company, told Cargo Facts that unit 30293, […]

Cardig Air boosts capacity with reactivation

• Charles Kauffman
• August 21, 2020
• Aircraft, Carriers, Conversions, Equipment, Freighter Aircraft Transactions, Narrowbody Conversions, News

Indonesia-based Cardig Air plans to resume operating a 737-300F by the end of August, increasing its narrowbody freighter fleet to two units [FAT 005570]. The aircraft (23258) was previously in service with the carrier, but was placed into storage in 2018. After being pulled out of storage, unit 23258 underwent a C-check and had both […]

E-commerce growth pushes Russia’s S7 to freighters

• Jeff Lee
• August 18, 2020
• Aircraft, Capacity & Demand, Carriers, Conversions, Equipment, Freighter Aircraft Transactions, Logistics, Narrowbody Conversions, News, Strategy

Russia-based S7 Airlines will become a freighter operator when it takes delivery of the first of two 737-800BCFs in November, in part to accommodate the region’s burgeoning e-commerce market. The carrier expects the second aircraft to arrive in January 2021. Both are being leased from GECAS [FATs 005562-005563]. S7 told Cargo Facts it had made […]

West Atlantic returns second 767

• Jeff Lee
• July 21, 2020
• Aircraft, Capacity & Demand, Carriers, Editorial, Equipment, Express, Freighter Aircraft Transactions, Logistics, News, Strategy, Widebody Conversions

Sweden-based West Atlantic recently returned a 767-200BDSF to its lessor and is considering the addition of slightly younger freighters. The carrier confirmed to Cargo Facts that the 767 (22217, ex-ABX Air) was returned off-lease to Cargo Aircraft Management (CAM) [FAT 005518]. The aircraft was ferried from Leipzig (LEJ) to Tampa (TPA) via Boston (BOS) at the […]

AEI commences 737-800 conversions in China

• Jeff Lee
• July 17, 2020
• Aircraft, Editorial, Equipment, Narrowbody Conversions, News, Strategy

Aeronautical Engineers Inc. (AEI) has begun converting 737-800s at the Taikoo (Shandong) Aircraft Engineering Company (STAECO) facility in Jinan (TNA). The first aircraft (29916, ex-AnadoluJet) was ferried by BlackRock from Shannon (SNN) to TNA July 9 to be inducted for conversion [FAT 005504]. In May, when the agreement between BlackRock and AEI for up to […]

Northern Air Cargo adds third 737-400F

• Jeff Lee
• June 30, 2020
• Aircraft, Carriers, Conversions, Editorial, Equipment, Freighter Aircraft Transactions, Logistics, Narrowbody Conversions, News, Strategy, Widebody Conversions

Alaska-based Northern Air Cargo has purchased a 737-400F (25267) [FAT 005363]. The carrier told Cargo Facts it expects to deploy it in service this week. Unit 25267 was previously in service with U.K.-based West Atlantic. After being withdrawn at the end of February, it was ferried from East Midlands (EMA) to Tampa (TPA) in early […]

JD expands 737-300F charter operation

• Jeff Lee
• June 16, 2020
• Aircraft, Carriers, Conversions, Editorial, Equipment, Express, Logistics, Narrowbody Conversions, News, Strategy

Chinese e-commerce giant JD.com has begun a second own-controlled route under its partnership with Loong Air. The Zhejiang-based carrier started flying a 737-300F (27518, ex-Air China) chartered by JD between Wuxi (WUX) and Tianjin (TSN) on June 16, ahead of JD’s June 18 anniversary sale event. Unit 27518, which features JD Express branding and offers 130 cubic […]