Maltese startup looks to 737-400Fs for launch

• Jeff Lee
• September 17, 2020
• Aircraft, Capacity & Demand, Carriers, Conversions, Editorial, Equipment, Logistics, Narrowbody Conversions, News, Strategy

A startup based in Malta aims to enter the freighter market in the first quarter of 2021 with its own air operator’s certificate (AOC) and possibly two 737-400Fs. SVL Airlines told Cargo Facts it had initially looked at 737-300QCs for the extra flexibility of a reconfigurable layout, but as the pandemic worsened over the course […]

GAMECO lands latest in string of 737 conversion line additions

• Charles Kauffman and Jeff Lee
• September 11, 2020
• Aircraft, Conversions, Editorial, Equipment, Narrowbody Conversions, News, Strategy

Boeing plans to establish add another conversion line at Guangzhou Aircraft Maintenance Engineering Company Ltd. (GAMECO), the planemaker announced on its official Weibo account. Beginning in 2021, the facility will have the capability to simultaneously convert up to two 737-800s according to Boeing’s STC. The MRO started converting 737-800BCFs this May, when BBAM inducted the first […]

KF set to carry out AEI conversions at second location

• Jeff Lee
• September 2, 2020
• Aircraft, Conversions, Editorial, Equipment, Freighter Aircraft Transactions, Narrowbody Conversions, News, Strategy

Canada-based KF Aerospace is establishing a 737-400SF conversion line at a second location, in Hamilton (YHM). The company’s YHM facility will soon provide touch labor for its first 737-400SF conversion according to an Aeronautical Engineers Inc. (AEI) STC. As part of a newly placed conversion order with AEI, the KF-owned aircraft (26280, ex-Juliet Romeo Aviation), […]

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 […]

AEI boosts 737-800 conversion capacity on demand growth

• Jeff Lee
• August 11, 2020
• Aircraft, Business, Carriers, Conversions, Editorial, Equipment, Logistics, Narrowbody Conversions, News, Strategy

Aeronautical Engineers Inc. (AEI) has designated Taikoo (Xiamen) Aircraft Engineering Company (HAECO Xiamen) as a conversion center for its 737-800SF program, taking the number of conversion facilities it has to five. According to AEI, HAECO Xiamen will initially have one conversion line and begin touch labor on its first 737-800 in January 2021, but a second […]

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 […]

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 adds Kalitta Charters II as CMI provider

• Charles Kauffman
• June 26, 2020
• All Posts, Capacity & Demand, Conversions, Editorial, Freighter Aircraft Transactions, News

DHL Express has designated Kalitta Charters II as a CMI service provider, placing a 737-400F (26316) with the Ypsilanti-based airline [FAT 005482]. Kalitta Charters II told Cargo Facts it expects to have unit 26316 in service in the next few weeks. The aircraft was previously operated by Southern Air and was ferried from Cincinnati (CVG) […]