Kalitta sees record fleet utilization

• Jeff Lee
• March 23, 2020
• Aircraft, Capacity & Demand, Carriers, Conversions, Equipment, News, Production Freighters, Strategy, Widebody Conversions

U.S.-based ACMI and charter operator Kalitta Air is experiencing one of the highest fleet utilization rates in its history. As much of the passenger fleet around the world is parked in storage for at least the next couple of months to slow the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic, cargo carriers are benefiting from the ensuing […]

Cathay operates passenger aircraft as freighters to replace lost bellyhold capacity

• Charles Kauffman and Jeff Lee
• March 9, 2020
• Aircraft, News, Strategy

In recent weeks, Cathay Pacific and regional subsidiary Cathay Dragon have made significant reductions to their respective intra-Asia passenger flight schedules, leading to a precipitous drop in bellyhold capacity. Air cargo demand remains robust to the extent that Cathay has begun to repurpose some of its many idled aircraft by flying them as freighters. Cathay […]

As Triumph idles 747 component production will Boeing follow?

• Charles Kauffman and Jeff Lee
• November 21, 2019
• Aircraft, Equipment, News, Production Freighters

The sole manufacturer of fuselage sections for Boeing’s 747 program, Triumph Group, has begun parting out its California factory and yesterday began auctioning off equipment. The company has built 747 fuselages for Boeing since the aircraft was launched in 1966. Boeing currently only has eighteen 747s left on firm order. All of them are -8Fs, […]

Cargolux is latest freighter-only operator to offer digital bookings

• Jeff Lee
• September 3, 2019
• All Posts, Carriers, Features, News, Strategy

Cargolux Airlines is making it easier for customers to purchase airfreight capacity with the launch of an online booking platform. Although such booking tools are no longer novel for combination carriers, the new tool represents something of a milestone for an all-cargo carrier.

Cathay freighters to carry lithium batteries again

• Jeff Lee
• August 1, 2019
• Aircraft, All Posts, Capacity & Demand, Carriers, Features, News, Strategy

Standalone lithium-ion batteries can once again be carried by Cathay Pacific Cargo on its freighter aircraft, after the carrier developed and introduced a fire-containment bag. Shipments of standalone lithium-ion batteries are a significant driver of freighter traffic, especially given the growth of e-commerce and personal electronic devices. Under a provision adopted by the ICAO Council […]

Top 5 Cargo Facts stories during the first half of 2019

• Caryn Livingston
• July 1, 2019
• Aircraft, All Posts, Carriers, Features

With the first half of 2019 now behind us, the move into the second half of the final year of the decade presents a good opportunity to reflect on those stories that struck a chord with our readers. As you’ll see when looking through those stories that were most popular during the past six months, […]

ACE Belgium Freighters denies ‘ACE’ trademark claim in DOT response

• Caryn Livingston
• May 22, 2019
• Carriers, Update

Last week, Alaska Central Express, which operates as ACE Air Cargo, filed a notification of trademark infringement with the United States Department of Transportation concerning ACE Belgium Freighters’ pending foreign air carrier authorization in the US. In a letter to the DOT dated 21 May, ACE Belgium responded, clarifying that the operators’ names, aircraft and […]

Qantas to upgrade Atlas-leased freighters to 747-8Fs

• Caryn Livingston
• April 4, 2019
• Carriers, Freighter Aircraft Transactions, News

Atlas Air Worldwide Holdings, which has had a long-standing ACMI lease agreement with Qantas Freight for the operation of two 747-400 freighters, said in a statement today that the leased aircraft will be upgauged to two 747-8Fs. According to flight tracking software FlightAware, the two -400Fs (29253 and 29254, both of which operate in Atlas […]