Southern Air to operate more 737-800Fs for Amazon

• Jeff Lee
• August 5, 2020
• Aircraft, Carriers, Editorial, Equipment, Logistics, Narrowbody Conversions, News, Strategy

Amazon’s next 737-800BCF will be handed over to Southern Air to operate, as the Atlas Air affiliate carrier appears to be stepping away from 737-400F operations. The 737-800BCF (32742, ex-NewGen Airways) was sent to China to be converted in January, and was spotted by photographers in Osaka (KIX) on Aug. 1, showing “Operated by Southern […]

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 […]

Cargo Air orders last 737 Classic conversion, brings forward NGs

• Jeff Lee
• July 15, 2020
• Aircraft, Carriers, Editorial, Equipment, Express, Freighter Aircraft Transactions, Narrowbody Conversions, News, Strategy

Cargo Air has ordered a 737-400SF conversion from Aeronautical Engineers Inc. (AEI) but is looking ahead to 737-800Fs, shifting forward their introduction to 2021. According to AEI, the aircraft (28882, ex-Go2Sky) is slated to be inducted for conversion into freighter configuration in mid-September at the Commercial Jet facility in Dothan, Ala. (DHN). This is Cargo […]

DHL appoints Mesa Airlines as new 737F operator

• Jeff Lee
• July 13, 2020
• Aircraft, Carriers, Editorial, Equipment, Express, Narrowbody Conversions, News, Strategy

DHL Express continues to diversify its ACMI and CMI partners. The express integrator has signed an agreement designating Arizona-based Mesa Airlines as the latest partner carrier to operate aircraft on its behalf, with the first of two 737-400Fs entering service in October. This marks Mesa Airlines’ first foray into cargo operations and the 737 platform. […]

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 […]

Pos Malaysia relaunches freighter operations with 737-400F

• Jeff Lee
• June 24, 2020
• Aircraft, Carriers, Conversions, Editorial, Express, Freighter Aircraft Transactions, Logistics, Narrowbody Conversions, News, Strategy

Malaysian postal and aviation group Pos Malaysia has restarted own-controlled freighter operations with a owned 737-400F (25099, ex-Alaska Airlines) [FAT 005474]. The 737 was the first of five ex-Alaska Airlines 737-400 combis acquired by Canada-based Avmax for conversion to full-freighter configuration by PEMCO. Unit 25099 was redelivered in June 2019 and ferried from Tampa (TPA) […]

KlasJet enters freighter market with leased Bluebird 737-300F

• Jeff Lee
• June 1, 2020
• Aircraft, Carriers, Editorial, Freighter Aircraft Transactions, Narrowbody Conversions, News, Strategy

Iceland-based Bluebird Nordic has subleased its sole remaining 737-300BDSF (25263, ex-Frontier) to sister airline KlasJet as it looks to consolidate its fleet around the 737-400F platform [FAT 005439]. Bluebird confirmed to Cargo Facts that unit 25263 will be in service with KlasJet in the longer term, as opposed to a more temporary arrangement during the COVID-19 […]