Airbus nears launch of A350 freighter program

• Charles Kauffman
• February 26, 2020
• Aircraft, Carriers, Editorial, Equipment, Exclusive, Express, News, Production Freighters, Widebody Fleet Analysis

Airbus is moving ahead with the development of a freighter version of the A350 aircraft, sources tell Cargo Facts. Sources say Airbus is actively pitching a freighter variant of the A350 to cargo operators, and would formally launch the new production freighter program once it secures a charter order. In recent months, sales executives for […]

EFW granted STC for A321P2F

• Jeff Lee
• February 21, 2020
• Aircraft, Carriers, Conversions, Equipment, Exclusive, Narrowbody Conversions, News

Elbe Flugzeugwerke (EFW), the joint venture between Airbus and ST Aerospace, has received the supplemental type certificate (STC) for its A321P2F program from the European Union Aviation Safety Agency. EFW told Cargo Facts that EASA granted the certificate Feb. 20, so A321P2F conversions can begin to be redelivered. But EFW said that the first aircraft […]

Qantas signs LOI for second A321F

• Jeff Lee
• February 12, 2020
• Aircraft, Carriers, Conversions, Equipment, Narrowbody Conversions, News

Australian carrier Qantas has signed a letter of intent with Keystone Holdings to convert and lease an A321P2F, the airline’s second freighter of the kind. The aircraft is expected to be redelivered by the end of 2021, after conversion at the ST Aerospace facility in Singapore (XSP) by Elbe Flugzeugwerke (EFW), a joint venture between […]

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 […]

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 […]

Airbus’ first BelugaXL enters service

• Gennette Cordova
• January 13, 2020
• Aircraft, Capacity & Demand, Editorial, Equipment, News, Production Freighters

Airbus’ first BelugaXL freighter (1853) entered service on Jan.9, as expected, two months after receiving European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) Type Certification.   The OEM stated that another five will be operational by 2023 to replace the fleet of its predecessor, the BelugaST. Airbus’ second BelugaXL (1824) has already been assembled, while the third unit (1930) is currently in production. The entire Beluga fleet is operated by Airbus […]

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 […]

Bain invests in Atlas’ leasing business to launch cargo JV

• Charles Kauffman and Jeff Lee
• December 18, 2019
• Aircraft, Conversions, News, Production Freighters, Strategy

Titan Aviation Holdings, the leasing subsidiary of Atlas Air Worldwide, and Bain Capital Credit today announced plans to establish a joint venture to develop a freighter aircraft leasing portfolio with a valuation of approximately $1 billion. Both companies will provide equity capital, with Bain and Titan initially contributing $360 million and $40 million, respectively. Long-term, […]