Amazon Air goes international with Leipzig hub

• Charles Kauffman and Jeff Lee
• October 21, 2020
• Aircraft, Capacity & Demand, Carriers, Editorial, Equipment, Express, Logistics, Narrowbody Conversions, News, Strategy

Amazon has begun handling its own flights at its newly launched hub in Leipzig (LEJ), a move that mirrors the Amazon Air network in the United States. While Amazon has long had carriers flying intra-Europe on its behalf, the e-commerce giant now has its own ground team and facility to support an own-controlled network. The […]

MasAir starts ACMI growth with DHL deal

• Jeff Lee
• October 9, 2020
• Aircraft, Capacity & Demand, Carriers, Conversions, Editorial, Equipment, Express, Logistics, News, Production Freighters, Strategy, Widebody Conversions

DHL Express has appointed a new ACMI operator in Mexico-based MasAir, which recently began flying a 767-300F on a Mexico City (MEX)-Los Angeles (LAX)-Guadalajara (GDL)-MEX routing six times a week. MasAir told Cargo Facts it is hopeful the deal will develop into a long-term agreement, while DHL could not immediately be reached for comment. The carrier, which […]

Eastern sets sights on 767Fs and 777Fs

• Jeff Lee
• September 22, 2020
• Aircraft, Capacity & Demand, Carriers, Conversions, Editorial, Equipment, Logistics, News, Production Freighters, Strategy, Widebody Conversions

Pennsylvania-headquartered Eastern Airlines may primarily be a leisure carrier transporting passengers between the U.S. and Latin America for now, but the airline is accelerating its plans to develop its cargo business, with freighters firmly in its sights. Mike Duggan, recently appointed director of international cargo business development, told Cargo Facts that as a niche startup […]

Maltese startup looks to 737-400Fs for launch

• Jeff Lee
• September 17, 2020
• Aircraft, Capacity & Demand, Carriers, Conversions, Editorial, Equipment, Logistics, Narrowbody Conversions, News, Strategy

A startup based in Malta aims to enter the freighter market in the first quarter of 2021 with its own air operator’s certificate (AOC) and possibly two 737-400Fs. SVL Airlines told Cargo Facts it had initially looked at 737-300QCs for the extra flexibility of a reconfigurable layout, but as the pandemic worsened over the course […]

Amerijet expands fleet with seventh 767-300F

• Jeff Lee
• September 16, 2020
• Aircraft, Carriers, Conversions, Editorial, Equipment, Freighter Aircraft Transactions, Logistics, News, Strategy, Widebody Conversions

U.S.-based Amerijet is growing its fleet with a newly converted 767-300BDSF (26996, ex-American Airlines), on lease from Cargo Aircraft Management (CAM) [FAT 005621]. The carrier told Cargo Facts it expects the aircraft, currently undergoing final checks in Tampa (TPA), to arrive at its Miami (MIA) hub in a matter of days. Unit 26996 had been ferried […]

ACT reassigns 747-400Fs from Saudia to Turkish

• Jeff Lee
• September 10, 2020
• Aircraft, Capacity & Demand, Carriers, Editorial, Equipment, Freighter Aircraft Transactions, Logistics, News, Production Freighters, Strategy, Widebody Conversions

Turkish Airlines has added more freighter capacity through two 747-400BDSFs operated on an ACMI basis by Turkey-based ACT Airlines. The aircraft (25641 and 25645, both ex-ANA) were both previously operated for Saudia Cargo [FATs 005617-005620]. At the end of August, the two 747s were brought back to Istanbul (ISL) from Saudi Arabia and repainted into ACT’s […]

SprintAir to introduce first ATR 72-500F

• Jeff Lee
• September 9, 2020
• Aircraft, Capacity & Demand, Carriers, Conversions, Editorial, Equipment, Freighter Aircraft Transactions, Logistics, Narrowbody Conversions, News, Strategy

Poland-based SprintAir has added its first ATR 72-500 to its fleet. The carrier confirmed to Cargo Facts that the newly acquired aircraft (686, ex-HOP) is being converted into freighter configuration at its own maintenance facility in Warsaw (WAW) [FATs 005578-005579]. SprintAir said it had selected unit 686 after an “extensive” market search for a good candidate […]

Qatar sells A330-200F to Hungary

• Jeff Lee
• September 8, 2020
• Aircraft, Capacity & Demand, Carriers, Editorial, Equipment, Freighter Aircraft Transactions, Logistics, News, Production Freighters, Strategy

One of Qatar Airways’ A330-200Fs has been acquired by the Hungarian government, according to local publication Origo. The aircraft (1578) will reportedly be operated by low-cost carrier Wizz Air [FAT 005604]. Apart from a test flight around Doha (DOH) on Aug. 31, unit 1578 had not flown since being removed from service after mid-July. In […]