Express growth feeds fleet expansion

• Jeff Lee
• October 15, 2020
• Express Fleet Analysis, Freighter Fleet Analysis, News

As the passenger aviation market attempts to stabilize itself after almost coming to a standstill just a few months ago, the freighter fleets operated by or on behalf of leading express carriers DHL, FedEx and UPS have been kept busier than ever. FedEx, for example, reported a 31% year-on-year growth in its international priority package […]

Cargo Three prepares for A300F launch

• Jeff Lee
• August 13, 2020
• Aircraft, Carriers, Editorial, Equipment, Logistics, News, Strategy, Widebody Conversions

Panama-based Cargo Three will soon launch operations with its first A300B4-200F (227, ex-AeroUnion). JMB Aviation Group, parent of Cargo Three, told Cargo Facts it expects to put the aircraft into service in about a month, after approval by the Panamanian authorities. For now, unit 227 is stored at Orlando Sanford (SFB), where it was ferried […]

AeroUnion streamlines freighter fleet

• Jeff Lee
• August 4, 2020
• Aircraft, Carriers, Editorial, Equipment, Logistics, News, Production Freighters, Strategy, Widebody Conversions

Mexico-based AeroUnion is not looking to make any additional fleet changes, at least for now. The airline’s latest disposal, an A300 (227) that will shortly be joining Panama-based Cargo Three, was the last of AeroUnion’s A300B4-200Fs. The carrier confirmed to Cargo Facts that unit 227 had been sold in February in accordance with its strategy […]

FedEx reactivates first parked jet this year

• Jeff Lee
• April 16, 2020
• Aircraft, Capacity & Demand, Carriers, Equipment, Express, News, Production Freighters, Strategy

While hundreds of passenger aircraft have been heading to Victorville (VCV) for short-term storage during the COVID-19 crisis, FedEx Express has brought an A300-600F (789) out of VCV, ferrying it to Piedmont Triad International Airport (GSO) on April 14. Unit 789, which was sent from Memphis (MEM) to VCV to be parked March 13, is […]

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 […]

Uni-top grounds fleet as it seeks new investors as part of restructure

• Jeff Lee
• November 19, 2019
• Aircraft, Carriers, Equipment, Logistics, News, Strategy, Widebody Conversions

Wuhan-based Uni-top Airlines’ fleet of freighters is currently grounded as the carrier faces financial difficulties and looks to restructure. According to Chinese business news outlet Yicai, the company has suspended all operations and has parked or returned its aircraft off lease. The last aircraft to have stopped flying appears to have been unit 763, which […]

UPS continues fleet growth with double delivery

• Jeff Lee
• October 28, 2019
• Aircraft, Carriers, Freighter Aircraft Transactions, News, Production Freighters, Strategy

As part of the continued growth of its freighter fleet, UPS Airlines has taken delivery of a 747-8F (64264) and a 767-300F (65907), flying them away from the Boeing factory on the same day [FATs 005218-005219]. With this double delivery, UPS has so far received ten aircraft in 2019. Unit 64264, which is UPS’ fourteenth […]

DHL replaces Air Hong Kong A300F with A330F

• Jeff Lee
• October 23, 2019
• Aircraft, Conversions, Engines, Equipment, Exclusive, News, Production Freighters, Strategy, Widebody Conversions

DHL Express has swapped out an Air Hong Kong A300-600F (683, ex-Japan Airlines) for the newly converted A330-300P2F (231, ex-Thai Airways) that was redelivered in early September 2019. After operating a rotation between Hong Kong (HKG) and Taipei (TPE), unit 683 was ferried to Dresden (DRS) on Oct. 19 via Dubai (DWC). Meanwhile, unit 231, […]