Operator mix expands with new own-controlled networks

• Charles Kauffman and Jeff Lee
• May 29, 2020
• Aircraft, All Posts, Carriers, Conversions, Editorial, Equipment, Narrowbody Conversions, News

The number of carriers operating on a CMI-basis on behalf of e-commerce and/or express companies in the United States grew by two in the first half of the year, with Phoenix-headquartered iAero Airways and Minneapolis-based Sun Country Airlines becoming the second and third U.S.-based 737-800Fs operators, respectively. In early May, DHL added iAero as a new […]

Titan Airways expands A321F fleet

• Jeff Lee
• May 14, 2020
• Aircraft, Editorial, Equipment, Narrowbody Conversions, News, Strategy

U.K.-based Titan Airways is growing its freighter fleet with a fourth A321F. The carrier told Cargo Facts it had committed to a conversion slot in 2021 for one of its own A321-200s (2060, ex-Thomas Cook Airlines). At Cargo Facts EMEA 2020 in February, Titan’s Commercial Director Alex Harrington said the aircraft had been bought in the […]

Atlas Air bounces back in first quarter as 747 demand surges

• Charles Kauffman
• May 7, 2020
• Aircraft, All Posts, Carriers, Conversions, Editorial, Equipment, News, Production Freighters, Widebody Conversions

Atlas Air Worldwide Holdings, Inc., the world’s largest operator of 747 freighters, reported a net profit of $23.4 million in the first quarter of 2020 as charter demand surged. Demand for the 747 platform, which was sluggish toward the end of 2019, took a 180-degree turn in 1Q20 as a result of COVID-19 disruptions that […]

Capacity crunch thrusts idled Southern Air 777F back into service

• Jeff Lee
• April 28, 2020
• Aircraft, Capacity & Demand, Carriers, Equipment, Express, Freighter Aircraft Transactions, News, Production Freighters, Strategy

A 777F that has been sitting on the ground for almost a year has taken to the skies again, thanks to the COVID-19 crisis and the widespread shortage of airfreight capacity. The aircraft (35606) is owned by Titan Aviation, the dry-leasing arm of Atlas Air, and was previously operated by Emirates until January 2019. It […]

Atlas posts $400M loss, parks four converted 747Fs

• Jeff Lee
• February 20, 2020
• Aircraft, Capacity & Demand, Carriers, Equipment, News, Production Freighters, Strategy, Widebody Conversions

Atlas Air Worldwide Holdings today reported a net loss of $410.2 million for the fourth quarter of 2019, partly resulting from a non-cash special charge of $485.2 million related to the write-down of the company’s whole 747-400F fleet due to lower cargo yields and aircraft utilization. Atlas posted the loss despite block hours in the […]

DHL hands over first 777F to Kalitta

• Jeff Lee
• February 14, 2020
• Aircraft, Carriers, Equipment, Express, News, Production Freighters, Strategy

DHL Express has taken delivery of the first 777F that it will hand over to U.S.-based Kalitta Air to be operated on a CMI basis [FATs 005329-005330]. The aircraft (66083) was ferried from Paine Field (PAE) to Oscoda (OSC) on Feb. 6. Kalitta is the third CMI operator of 777Fs owned by DHL, and is also set […]

ASL grows its 737 Classic fleet

• Charles Kauffman
• February 10, 2020
• Aircraft, Carriers, Conversions, Equipment, Freighter Aircraft Transactions, Narrowbody Conversions, News, Strategy

ASL Airlines Ireland has added a 737-400F (29204, ex-Yamal Airlines) on lease from Royal Aero GmbH [FAT 005319].   The delivery highlights the willingness of ACMI operators to continue adding to their fleets 737 Classic conversions while feedstock for 737 NG conversions remains in short supply. Last week at Cargo Facts EMEA in Frankfurt, panelists in a roundtable discussion on the topic of freighter conversions […]

ACT 747F suffers tail strike

• Jeff Lee
• February 3, 2020
• Aircraft, News, Production Freighters

A 747-400F operated by Turkey-based ACT Airlines suffered a tail strike on departure Feb. 1. The aircraft (26559, ex-Singapore Airlines Cargo) was being operated in ACMI service for Saudia Cargo. Unit 26559, manufactured in 2001, was en route from Dammam (DMM) to Zaragoza (ZAZ). It continued after takeoff and diverted to Jeddah (JED), where it […]