Seen: A321P2F in Qantas/Australia Post colors

• Jeff Lee
• August 31, 2020
• Aircraft, Carriers, Editorial, Equipment, Logistics, Narrowbody Conversions, News, Strategy

The first A321 freighter converted by Elbe Flugzeugwerke (EFW) has taken its first flight in the colors of launch customer Qantas Freight. Lessor Vallair confirmed to Cargo Facts that delivery to Qantas is expected in the next couple of weeks. The first A321 passenger-to-freighter conversion performing a test flight in Singapore prior to delivery to […]

Crisis could diversify next-gen narrowbody leasing market

• Charles Kauffman and Jeff Lee
• July 8, 2020
• Aircraft, Carriers, Conversions, Editorial, Equipment, Narrowbody Conversions, Narrowbody Fleet Analysis, News, Strategy

Minneapolis (MSP) is not a base for all-cargo carriers, and yet a freshly painted 737-800BCF (32605, ex-Hainan Airlines) landed at the airport on June 26, having arrived empty from Everett (PAE). The aircraft had arrived in Everett in early June after conversion to freighter configuration by Boeing in China. In the past three months, GECAS, […]

Spotted: A321PCF prototype on the move

• Charles Kauffman
• July 7, 2020
• Aircraft, All Posts, Conversions, Editorial, Equipment, Narrowbody Conversions, News

Freighter-converted A321s are on the horizon. The first A321-200 to be converted by 321 Precision Conversions, a joint venture between Precision Aircraft Solutions and Air Transport Services Group (ATSG), was spotted taxiing outside the Avocet MRO facility at Orlando Sanford International (SFB), where the conformity aircraft is being converted. The aircraft (891, ex-FlyCAA), seen above, […]

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 […]