IAI receives STC for 737-800BDSF

• Charles Kauffman and Jeff Lee
• April 3, 2020
• Aircraft, Conversions, Editorial, Exclusive, Narrowbody Conversions, News

On April 2, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) awarded Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) a supplemental type certificate (STC) for its 737-800BDSF freighter conversion program, Cargo Facts has learned. IAI has completed two aircraft at its facility in Tel Aviv (TLV) – unit 30498 (ex-Transaero Airlines), which began flight tests in March 2019, and unit 28619 […]

AA to retire dozens of 737s, releasing more feedstock

• Jeff Lee
• April 1, 2020
• Aircraft, Carriers, Conversions, Editorial, Equipment, Logistics, Narrowbody Conversions, News, Strategy, Widebody Conversions

American Airlines is reportedly planning to retire seventy-six 737-800s, nine A330-300s and twenty E190s in light of the COVID-19 crisis, making a large batch of potential conversion feedstock available. American Airlines President Robert Isom shared the plans during a video session with employees during the weekend, according to Reuters. Although no precise timeline for the […]

Boeing offers Dreamlifter, 3D-printing machines for COVID-19 relief efforts

• Chelsea Toczauer
• March 27, 2020
• Aircraft, Editorial, Freighter Aircraft Transactions, News

Boeing is now offering its 747-400LCF “Dreamlifter” cargo plane to transport critical and urgently needed supplies in a continuation of its support of COVID-19 relief efforts. The company will also be producing face shields with 3D-printing machines across the U.S. https://twitter.com/Boeing/status/1243660810737549312 The Atlas Air-operated Dreamlifter is one of the largest cargo aircraft in the world, […]

Freighters carry medical aid from China to Europe

• Jeff Lee
• March 25, 2020
• Aircraft, Capacity & Demand, Carriers, Conversions, Editorial, Equipment, Logistics, Narrowbody Conversions, News, Production Freighters, Strategy, Widebody Conversions

As the COVID-19 crisis worsens in Europe, a plethora of medical equipment and aid is now being flown in from China by a range of freighter aircraft, whether production, converted or makeshift. ASL Airlines Belgium is currently operating ten flights a week using 747-400Fs between Liege and China. While these flights transported medical supplies from […]

Amazon Air to hand over first 737-800BCF to Sun Country Air

• Charles Kauffman
• March 24, 2020
• Aircraft, All Posts, Conversions, Equipment, Narrowbody Conversions

Even as demand for passenger travel falters amid the Covid-19 outbreak, low-cost carrier Sun Country Air will soon be adding flights — not to carry passengers, but rather to haul cargo on behalf of Amazon Air. On March 22, a 737-800BCF (32348, ex-Pegasus) departed Shanghai (PVG) for Everett (PAE) ahead of redelivery to GECAS [FAT […]

Boeing to pause production for two weeks amid pandemic

• Jeff Lee
• March 23, 2020
• Aircraft, Editorial, Equipment, News, Strategy

Boeing will suspend all production activity across the Puget Sound region for fourteen days from March 25, in an effort to slow the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic. The company said it would begin reducing its manufacturing operations today. During the suspension, Boeing will conduct deep cleaning at sites where there were confirmed COVID-19 infections. […]

Coronavirus pressures Boeing to idle operations, cure cash bleed

• Charles Kauffman and Jeff Lee
• March 20, 2020
• Aircraft, Editorial, Equipment, News, Production Freighters

Boeing is under mounting pressure from the coronavirus outbreak to stop work at its final-assembly facilities, at least on a temporary basis. With at least three large widebody freighters on the flight line at Boeing’s Everett final assembly facility, deliveries planned in the coming weeks could be delayed. These include a China Southern Cargo 777F […]

Spring peak arrives early for China’s freighter operators

• Charles Kauffman and Jeff Lee
• March 11, 2020
• Aircraft, Capacity & Demand, Carriers, Conversions, Editorial, Narrowbody Conversions, News, Production Freighters, Strategy

Freighter utilization rates by China’s “Big Three” combination carriers surged 83% month-to-month for the week of March 5-11, to nearly 3,000 flight hours, according to flight-tracking data analyzed by Cargo Facts. Compared to the same weeklong period in January, freighter flight hours were up 16%. Despite a precipitous drop in freighter hours flown between January […]