Crisis could diversify next-gen narrowbody leasing market

• Charles Kauffman and Jeff Lee
• July 8, 2020
• Aircraft, Carriers, Conversions, Editorial, Equipment, Narrowbody Conversions, Narrowbody Fleet Analysis, News, Strategy

Minneapolis (MSP) is not a base for all-cargo carriers, and yet a freshly painted 737-800BCF (32605, ex-Hainan Airlines) landed at the airport on June 26, having arrived empty from Everett (PAE). The aircraft had arrived in Everett in early June after conversion to freighter configuration by Boeing in China. In the past three months, GECAS, […]

Egyptair Cargo plans narrowbody freighter expansion

• Jeff Lee
• June 29, 2020
• Aircraft, Capacity & Demand, Carriers, Conversions, Editorial, Equipment, Narrowbody Conversions, News, Strategy, Widebody Conversions

EgyptAir Cargo is looking to enter the narrowbody space with the addition of two 737-800BCFs. The carrier currently has three freighter-converted A330-200Fs. EgyptAir Cargo told Cargo Facts it is in the process of completing the required studies and securing the conversion slots. It plans to add the two aircraft in 2021, allowing it to extend […]

GAMECO inducts first 737-800

• Jeff Lee
• May 19, 2020
• Aircraft, Carriers, Editorial, Equipment, Narrowbody Conversions, News, Strategy

Guangzhou Aircraft Maintenance Engineering Company Ltd. (GAMECO) has kicked off its 737-800BCF conversion line with the induction of its first aircraft (29052, ex-Aeromexico) [FAT 005441]. GAMECO, which Boeing announced as its third conversion site for 737-800BCFs in October 2019, said it is also looking to launch a second -800BCF conversion line later this year. BBAM confirmed to […]

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 […]

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 Engineering, 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 […]

CF EMEA: Titan Airways plans expansion with A321Fs

• Jeff Lee
• February 12, 2020
• Aircraft, Cargo Facts EMEA 2020 - Video Series, Carriers, Conversions, Narrowbody Conversions, News, Strategy

FRANKFURT — U.K.-based Titan Airways plans to enlarge its presence in the freighter market with the introduction of three freighter-converted A321Fs. The first unit (1238, ex-Thomas Cook Airlines) was inducted for conversion by Elbe Flugzeugwerke (EFW) in Singapore (XSP) in January and is expected to be redelivered by the end of the year, on lease […]

BBAM expands fleet of 737-800BCFs

• Jeff Lee
• February 11, 2020
• Aircraft, Conversions, Equipment, Narrowbody Conversions, News, Strategy

BBAM has placed an order for three more 737-800BCFs from Boeing [FATs 005323-005325]. The lessor, which has already taken redelivery of two 737-800BCFs, will take three 737-800s from its existing portfolio of 134 and convert them into freighter configuration. The first aircraft will be converted by Boeing at the Guangzhou Aircraft Maintenance Engineering Company Ltd. […]

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 […]