Ancra plans for record CLS deliveries amid surging P2F demand

• Charles Kauffman and Jeff Lee
• September 23, 2020
• Aircraft, Conversions, Editorial, Equipment, Narrowbody Conversions, News, Strategy, Widebody Conversions

U.S.-based Ancra International has ramped up its production of cargo-loading systems (CLS) as conversion activity intensifies, and expects to make a record number of deliveries in 2021. The company told Cargo Facts that, based on guidance provided by the various conversion houses, it recently upped its manufacturing output earlier this summer and is on course […]

Air Hong Kong expands fleet with third own-operated A330F

• Jeff Lee
• June 10, 2020
• Aircraft, Carriers, Conversions, Equipment, Express, News, Strategy, Widebody Conversions

Air Hong Kong (AHK) will soon add to its fleet the A330-300F (777, ex-China Eastern Airlines) recently converted by Elbe Flugzeugwerke (EFW) and redelivered to DHL Express at the end of May. Unit 777 was sent from EFW’s facility in Dresden (DRS) to Malta (MLA) on May 28 to be painted, and has now been photographed in the […]

EFW unaffected by Italian lockdown

• Jeff Lee
• March 19, 2020
• Aircraft, Conversions, Narrowbody Conversions, News, Widebody Conversions

Despite the Italian government’s extension today of the country’s COVID-19 lockdown to April, Elbe Flugzeugwerke (EFW), which uses parts supplied from Italy for its A330P2F, remains unaffected for now. Sources close to the matter told Cargo Facts that while the conversion program is dependent on thousands of parts supplied from a range of countries, and […]

Production A330F backlog dwindles

• Jeff Lee
• January 17, 2020
• Aircraft, Carriers, Conversions, Equipment, News, Widebody Conversions

Colombia-based Synergy Aerospace Corporation, one of only two remaining customers with the production A330-200F on order, canceled its order for a single frame in December, according to Airbus’ orders and deliveries tally for 2019. Synergy is the majority shareholder of Avianca Holdings, which operates six A330-200Fs through its Avianca Cargo subsidiary. This leaves the A330-200F […]

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, […]

CFS 2019: A330P2Fs won’t supplant freighter-converted 767s for 3-5 years

• Charles Kauffman and Jeff Lee
• October 21, 2019
• Cargo Facts Symposium, CFS 2019 - Airborne Global Video Series, Equipment, News, Widebody Conversions

SAN DIEGO – Although the A330 is seen as a likely successor to freighter-converted 767-300s, not for 3-5 years, said Rich Corrado, president Air Transport Services Group (ATSG). With an estimated 220 airframes remaining in passenger service of an age suitable for conversion, which for ATSG’s portfolio tends to be in a range of 15-25 […]

Third A330-300P2F set to join Air Hong Kong fleet

• Jeff Lee
• October 8, 2019
• Aircraft, Carriers, Conversions, Exclusive, Express, News, Strategy, Widebody Conversions

DHL Express plans to place its third freighter-converted A330-300F (231, ex-Thai Airways) with Air Hong Kong. The express integrator confirmed to Cargo Facts that this aircraft will begin its Asian operations later this month. Unit 231 was redelivered by Elbe Flugzeugwerke (EFW) in September 2019 and was painted into the Air Hong Kong livery in […]

Garuda keen to expand freighter ops

• Jeff Lee
• October 4, 2019
• Aircraft, Capacity & Demand, Carriers, Conversions, News, Strategy

As e-commerce continues to drive airfreight growth, Garuda Indonesia could grow its freighter fleet to eight units by the end of next year. The Indonesian carrier told local media outlet Kontan that it has already been using three freighters this year. Garuda said that it plans to add both A330Fs for international routes and 737-800Fs […]