China Airlines firms up three more 777Fs

• Jeff Lee
• September 4, 2019
• Aircraft, All Posts, Carriers, Freighter Aircraft Transactions, News, Production Freighters, Strategy

Taiwan-based China Airlines has finalized an order for six 777Fs from Boeing as it looks to modernize its 747-400F fleet. The carrier had previously signed a memorandum of understanding with Boeing in May 2019 for three 777Fs plus options for three more [FATs 005116 - 5118]. According to Boeing, after China Airlines announced its intent […]

After latest UPS delivery, Boeing’s 747-8F order backlog slips into the teens

• Charles Kauffman
• September 3, 2019
• Aircraft, All Posts, Carriers, Features, Production Freighters

Following a delivery to UPS last week (64263) [FAT 005115], Boeing’s order backlog for the 747-8F now stands at just nineteen units. Of the nineteen-unit 747-8F backlog, most future deliveries will go to UPS, which still has fifteen of the type remaining on firm order with Boeing. As for the other four units in Boeing’s […]

Second Atlas 747-8F begins flying for Qantas

• Jeff Lee
• August 29, 2019
• Aircraft, All Posts, Capacity & Demand, Carriers, Features, Freighter Aircraft Transactions, Production Freighters, Strategy

Atlas Air put a second 747-8F into ACMI service for Qantas Freight [FAT 004829]. The aircraft is unit 37566, one of the two 747-8Fs that we predicted would operate for the Australian carrier, joining unit 37561. Unit 37566 positioned to New York (JFK) from Miami (MIA) on Aug, 28 and today started flying to Sydney (SYD) […]

Atlas puts first 747-8F into service for Qantas Freight

• Jeff Lee
• August 27, 2019
• Aircraft, All Posts, Capacity & Demand, Features, Freighter Aircraft Transactions, News, Production Freighters, Strategy

Atlas Air has placed the first of two 747-8Fs into operations for Qantas Freight [FAT 004828]. The aircraft arrived at the carrier’s hub in Sydney (SYD) today. Unit 37561, which was delivered to Atlas in Nov. 2011, was ferried from Miami (MIA) to New York (JFK) on Aug. 25 prior to its entry into ACMI […]

ASL Airlines 747-400ERF still stuck in Nanchang after aborted takeoff

• Charles Kauffman
• August 27, 2019
• Aircraft, All Posts, Carriers, Features, Production Freighters

ASL Airlines Belgium is down a 747-400ERF. On August 23, a 747-400ERF (33516) operated by ASL Airlines Belgium was en-route to Liege (LGG) from Nanchang (KHN) when the crew rejected the takeoff. While decelerating, the aircraft’s brakes overheated and deflated fourteen of the tires. The crew managed to safely evacuate the aircraft from the upper […]

Air Atlanta Icelandic acquires second EVA 747F

• Jeff Lee
• August 23, 2019
• Aircraft, All Posts, Carriers, Conversions, Features, Freighter Aircraft Transactions, News, Strategy, Widebody Conversions

Air Atlanta Icelandic has acquired a 747‑400BDSF (27899) from EVA Air [FAT 005104]. The aircraft was ferried from Jakarta (CGK), where it had been stored, to Liège (LGG). Air Atlanta Icelandic told Cargo Facts that this is the second of two 747-400BDSFs recently purchased from the Taiwan-based carrier, confirming our previous suggestion that the Icelandic […]

Flexport unveils livery for dedicated 747F

• Jeff Lee
• August 22, 2019
• Aircraft, All Posts, Capacity & Demand, Carriers, Features, Production Freighters, Strategy

A 747-400F (36135) has just been painted in Flexport’s colors and will be entering service for the forwarder’s own-controlled airfreight operation on Aug. 25, flying from Chicago (ORD) to Hong Kong (HKG), Flexport confirmed to Cargo Facts [FAT 005103]. Unit 36135 is one of the three 747-400Fs recently reactivated by Nippon Cargo Airlines (NCA), having been […]

Air France completes D-check on 777F

• Jeff Lee
• August 21, 2019
• Aircraft, All Posts, Capacity & Demand, Carriers, Features, Freighter Aircraft Transactions, News, Strategy

Air France has completed a scheduled D-check on one of its 777Fs (32966). The aircraft is expected to reenter service this weekend and is scheduled to fly to Chicago (ORD), according to Air France KLM Martinair Cargo. Unit 32966 entered Air France’s MRO facility in Orly (ORY) on 21 July, having been in service for […]