El Al secures 747 capacity with Atlas, sidelines other operators

• Charles Kauffman
• January 7, 2020
• Aircraft, Carriers, Equipment, News

In what may come as a blow to European 747F operators, Israel-based El Al Airlines began wet-leasing a 747-400F from U.S.-based Atlas Air [FAT 005279]. Flights between Tel Aviv (TLV) and Liege (LGG) began on Jan. 1. The move to lease-in capacity follows El Al’s 2019 decision to cease freighter operations of its own, and […]

European freighter fleet analysis (Part II): 777F on the rise

• Charles Kauffman and Jeff Lee
• December 30, 2019
• Aircraft, Carriers, Conversions, Features, Production Freighters, Strategy, Widebody Conversions, Widebody Fleet Analysis

This is the second part of our analysis of the European jet freighter fleet. Last week, we looked at narrowbodies in Part I. Turning to the widebody jet freighter fleet operated by European carriers, the chart shows that the total number increased 8.3% since last year to 209 units. Notably, the overall number of 747-400Fs […]

European freighter fleet analysis (Part I): 737 Classics drive growth, for now

• Charles Kauffman and Jeff Lee
• December 23, 2019
• Aircraft, Carriers, Features, Freighter Fleet Analysis, Narrowbody Conversions, Narrowbody Fleet Analysis

In a year as tumultuous as 2019, it’s encouraging to see that European carriers continued to add freighter aircraft. Today we begin an analysis which will take a closer look at these fleets, starting with narrowbody jets in Part I and moving to widebodies in Part II. To begin with, we note that for this […]

Widebody freighter aircraft transactions surge in October 2019

• Charles Kauffman
• November 25, 2019
• All Posts, Freighter Aircraft Transactions, News

Of the 73 transactions Cargo Facts recorded in October 2019, 46 involved widebody freighters. Although 30 of those transactions included orders and options related to lessor GECAS’ launch order for IAI’s 777-300ERSF, widebody freighter deliveries and placements also accelerated during the period, perhaps unsurprisingly ahead of peak season.    A total of four 777Fs were delivered during the period – two to Qatar […]

ASL adds a 747-400F to its fleet

• Charles Kauffman
• November 14, 2019
• News, Video

ASL Airlines Belgium has taken delivery of a 747-400F on lease (30762, ex-China Airlines) [FAT 005217]. The aircraft arrived in Liege, Belgium (LGG) earlier this week and is expected to commence service shortly. Cargo Facts reported on the reactivation of the previously-stored China Airlines 747-400F last month. See the full story here. Here’s a video […]

ASL Airlines Belgium to lease China Airlines 747-400F

• Charles Kauffman and Jeff Lee
• October 25, 2019
• Carriers, Exclusive, Production Freighters

A 747-400F (30762, ex-China Airlines) will soon join the ASL Airlines Belgium fleet, Cargo Facts has learned [FAT 005217]. Previously the aircraft had been in long-term storage at Victorville (VCV), where China Airlines has two other 747-400Fs in storage (30760 and 30761). The reactivation pushes the stored 747-400F fleet even lower. Cargo Facts estimates there are now just four 747-400F […]

ASL adds 737-400F to Irish affiliate

• Jeff Lee
• September 9, 2019
• Aircraft, All Posts, Capacity & Demand, Carriers, Conversions, Freighter Aircraft Transactions, Narrowbody Conversions, News, Strategy

ASL Aviation Holdings has taken redelivery of a 737-400SF (25773, ex-Yamal Airlines). The aircraft is on lease from U.S.-based Vx Capital Partners and will be joining the ASL Airlines Ireland fleet [FATs 005127-005128]. Unit 25773 was ferried from Jacksonville (VQQ), where it was converted at the Flightstar facility by Aeronautical Engineers, Inc. (AEI), to Shannon […]

Cargolux ferries first ex-ASL 747-400ERF to Luxembourg

• Charles Kauffman
• April 29, 2019
• News

Last Friday, a 747-400ERF (35234) previously operated by ASL Airlines Belgium was ferried to Cargolux’s main hub in Luxembourg. Following paint and maintenance, the aircraft will be the first of three incoming freighters the carrier will add to its fleet this year. Shortly after the aircraft’s arrival, Cargolux shared photos of the aircraft on its […]