Freighters resist quarantine and spring back into action, for now

• Charles Kauffman
• March 18, 2020
• Aircraft, All Posts, Editorial, Equipment, Freighter Aircraft Transactions, News, Widebody Fleet Analysis

On March 15, ACE Belgium Freighters added to its fleet a second 747-400, an ERF variant (35169, ex-Jade Cargo) that previously operated on the AOC of affiliate carrier Israel-based CAL Cargo [FAT 005356]. After sitting idle since its ferry flight to Liege (LGG) on Feb. 2, the aircraft has since completed two roundtrip flights between […]

Spring peak arrives early for China’s freighter operators

• Charles Kauffman and Jeff Lee
• March 11, 2020
• Aircraft, Capacity & Demand, Carriers, Conversions, Editorial, Narrowbody Conversions, News, Production Freighters, Strategy

Freighter utilization rates by China’s “Big Three” combination carriers surged 83% month-to-month for the week of March 5-11, to nearly 3,000 flight hours, according to flight-tracking data analyzed by Cargo Facts. Compared to the same weeklong period in January, freighter flight hours were up 16%. Despite a precipitous drop in freighter hours flown between January […]

AirBridgeCargo seeks to cull 747F fleet

• Charles Kauffman and Jeff Lee
• March 10, 2020
• Aircraft, Capacity & Demand, Carriers, Editorial, Equipment, Logistics, News, Production Freighters, Strategy

Russia-based AirBridgeCargo (ABC) is in negotiations with lessors to terminate agreements on up to five 747 freighters. The carrier said it entered into discussions with its leasing partners late last year as air cargo demand slumped. In the fallout from the COVID-19 outbreak that has forced ABC to cancel flights, those talks have intensified in […]

Cargolux acquires CargoLogicAir 747

• Jeff Lee
• February 24, 2020
• Aircraft, Carriers, Equipment, Freighter Aircraft Transactions, News, Production Freighters, Strategy

A 747-400F previously operated by U.K.-based CargoLogicAir (CLA) has found a new owner in Cargolux, bringing the Luxembourg-based carrier’s all-747 fleet back to thirty units [FAT 005335]. According to the U.K. Civil Aviation Authority, the aircraft (35170, ex-AirBridgeCargo) was deregistered Feb. 19. It was parked in Leipzig (LEJ) on Dec. 30, and brought to Sharjah […]

SF Airlines adds second 747-400ERF

• Charles Kauffman
• September 9, 2019
• Aircraft, All Posts, Carriers, E-Commerce, Features, Production Freighters

Shenzhen-based SF Airlines’ second 747-400ERF (35174, ex-Jade Cargo) has officially joined the carrier’s freighter fleet [FAT 005129]. Including the 757-200PCF (29441, ex-TUI Airways) redelivered to SF last week, the carrier’s fleet now numbers 57 freighters. The widebody freighter was one of a pair of 747-400ERFs SF won in an auction that took place on Alibaba’s […]

Cargolux closes JOLCO on another 747F

• Jeff Lee
• August 5, 2019
• Aircraft, All Posts, Carriers, Features, News

Luxembourg-based Cargolux has closed a Japanese operating lease with call option (JOLCO) transaction for another 747-400ERF. This is the airline’s third JOLCO, having concluded the first such transaction this January. Under the JOLCO, Cargolux has the option to purchase the aircraft during or at the end of the lease. According to Cargolux, the London Branch of […]

No 747-8F upgauge yet for Qantas Freight

• Jeff Lee
• July 30, 2019
• Aircraft, All Posts, Capacity & Demand, Carriers, Features, Freighter Aircraft Transactions, News, Strategy

Two Atlas Air 747-400Fs (29253 and 29254) that had been flying on an ACMI basis for Qantas Freight ceased operations on Sunday as part of a planned transition to larger 747-8Fs. Surprisingly, they have been replaced not by two 747-8Fs, but with another two Atlas 747-400Fs (30588 and 32840). According to a statement by Atlas […]

KLM Cargo rejigs flight schedule after flap incident grounds 747F

• Jeff Lee
• July 17, 2019
• Aircraft, All Posts, Carriers, Features, News

A KLM Cargo 747-400ERF (33694) is grounded in Harare (HRE) after a flap section separated from its wing during approach. The carrier told Cargo Facts that the aircraft will be repaired in HRE and is expected to be back in service on July 25. Unit 33694 was also involved in a ground incident in Dar-es-Salaam […]