Vallair looks to sale-leasebacks during COVID-19

• Jeff Lee
• April 8, 2020
• Aircraft, Carriers, Conversions, Equipment, Narrowbody Conversions, Strategy

The COVID-19 crisis is providing Luxembourg-based Vallair an opportunity to grow its portfolio of A321s and further its strategy of specializing in freighter-converted narrowbodies. Vallair told Cargo Facts it is actively exploring sale-leaseback deals with A321 operators, with a view to converting the aircraft into freighter configuration at a later stage when conversion slots open. The […]

First A321P2F takes to the skies

• Jeff Lee
• January 22, 2020
• Aircraft, Conversions, Engines, Equipment, Narrowbody Conversions, News

The very first freighter-converted A321-200F became airborne today, carrying out its first post-conversion flight over Singapore for approximately twenty minutes. The test confirms that the aircraft (835, ex-Onur Air) has finally received its two IAE V2500 engines. In October 2019, Elbe Flugzeugwerke (EFW), the joint venture between Airbus and ST Aerospace, said the Supplemental Type […]

ULS looks to add narrowbody freighters

• Jeff Lee
• January 16, 2020
• Aircraft, Carriers, Conversions, Equipment, Narrowbody Conversions, News, Strategy, Widebody Conversions

Turkey-based ULS Airlines Cargo is now looking to narrowbody freighters to renew and expand its fleet. The carrier told Cargo Facts that due to the changing market it plans to introduce two A321Fs and two A330Fs within the next four years, subject to feedstock prices. ULS said this would be the first phase of its fleet […]

Second EFW A321P2F heads to conversion facility in Singapore

• Jeff Lee
• December 27, 2019
• Aircraft, Conversions, Narrowbody Conversions, News, Strategy

An A321-200 (1238, ex-Thomas Cook Airlines) that will become Elbe Flugzeugwerke’s (EFW) second A321P2F was ferried to Singapore (XSP) on Christmas Day. San Francisco-headquartered BBAM confirmed to Cargo Facts that it is managing this aircraft and that it will soon be inducted for conversion into freighter configuration [FAT 005272]. The 20-year-old A321 was stored in Manchester […]

Diversification, robust demand for 767Fs elevate ATSG 3Q19 results

• Jeff Lee
• November 7, 2019
• Aircraft, Capacity & Demand, Carriers, Conversions, Earnings, Narrowbody Conversions, News, Widebody Conversions

Air Transport Services Group (ATSG) reported an increase in customer revenue for the third quarter of 2019 of 79% year-over-year to US$366.1 million, partly because of the acquisition of Omni Air International in November 2018 but also because of strong demand for ATSG’s 767 freighters and flight operations. Operating income rose by almost 52% compared […]

Qantas to add A321P2Fs, but from whom?

• Charles Kauffman
• August 12, 2019
• Aircraft, All Posts, Carriers, Conversions, Features, Narrowbody Conversions, News

Australian carrier Qantas will introduce up to three passenger-to-freighter converted A321s to its fleet, as part of an expanded seven-year agreement signed with Australia Post [FATs 005092-5093]. With the first aircraft entering into service in October 2020, the A321P2Fs will be flying exclusively for Australia Post, which has had an airmail agreement with Qantas since […]

Freighter aircraft leasing part II: E-commerce behind growing leasing market

• Jeff Lee
• July 19, 2019
• Carriers, Conversions, Features, Freighter Fleet Analysis, Strategy

Last week, we began our two-part annual analysis of the increasingly complex world of freighter aircraft leasing. In part I, we started with an overview of how the freighter fleet belonging to lessors has evolved since our analysis a year ago. In part II, we consider the leased fleet by carrier, and how year-over-year shifts […]

Titan Airways receives second 737-400SF; expects first A321P2F by year-end 2020

• Jeff Lee
• July 11, 2019
• Aircraft, All Posts, Carriers, Conversions, Features, Freighter Aircraft Transactions, News, Strategy

U.K.-based Titan Airways has taken redelivery of its second 737-400SF from Aeronautical Engineers, Inc. (AEI) [FAT 005041-5042]. The aircraft (25853, ex-British Airways), on lease from Automatic LLC and previously part of Titan’s own passenger fleet, was inducted for conversion at the Commercial Jet facility in Dothan, Alabama (DHN), in October 2018. It was ferried from […]