Longhao re-brands after securing new investor, looks ahead to fleet growth

• Charles Kauffman
• November 14, 2019
• Aircraft, All Posts, Carriers, Conversions, Exclusive, Narrowbody Conversions, News

Longhao Airlines is settling into its secondary base at Zhengzhou Airport (CGO) following investment from Henan Civil Aviation Development Investment (HNCA), and is now operating under its new name, Zhongyuan Longhao Airlines. After a period of low flight activity at the beginning of this year, the carrier is returning its fleet to service, and has […]

West Atlantic UK extends 737F MRO deal with KLM UK Engineering

• Jeff Lee
• November 4, 2019
• Aircraft, Carriers, Conversions, Narrowbody Conversions, News

Cargo carrier West Atlantic UK and KLM UK Engineering, the wholly owned MRO subsidiary of KLM Engineering & Maintenance, have agreed to extend their airframe maintenance contract. The two companies first entered into the maintenance deal at the end of 2017, taking effect in January 2018. Under the contract, KLM UK Engineering will carry out heavy maintenance […]

Tianjin Air Cargo inducts 737-800BCF into fleet

• Jeff Lee
• September 30, 2019
• Aircraft, Carriers, Conversions, Freighter Aircraft Transactions, Narrowbody Conversions, News, Strategy

Tianjin Air Cargo has introduced its first 737-800BCF. The 17-year-old aircraft (32602, ex-Hainan Airlines) is on lease from Spectre Air Capital, following conversion to freighter configuration by Boeing at the Taikoo (Shandong) Aircraft Engineering Co., Ltd. (STAECO) facility in Jinan (TNA) [FATs 004944-004945]. In addition to the red Tianjin Air Cargo livery, the aircraft features the blue […]

Rostrum signs leases on two 737-300Fs

• Jeff Lee
• September 27, 2019
• Aircraft, Carriers, Conversions, Exclusive, Freighter Aircraft Transactions, Narrowbody Conversions, Strategy

Rostrum Leasing has secured commitments for two of its recently converted 737-300Fs, the Ireland-based lessor confirmed to Cargo Facts. The two PEMCO-converted frames (27713 and 28401, both ex-Southwest) are due to be redelivered in October 2019 to an operator based in Asia [FATs 005147 and 005148]. Unit 27713, manufactured in December 1996, was converted in […]

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 […]