Lufthansa Cargo withdraws third MD-11F for the year

• Jeff Lee
• November 27, 2019
• Aircraft, Carriers, Freighter Aircraft Transactions, News, Production Freighters, Strategy

Lufthansa Cargo has removed another MD-11F from its fleet [FAT 005241]. The aircraft in question (48806) is the third to be withdrawn by the carrier in 2019, after unit 48805 in October and unit 48785 in August. Lufthansa Cargo told Cargo Facts that, as a result of the recent decision to proceed with an accelerated fleet renewal program, […]

Qatar Airways adds 6th 777F for 2019

• Charles Kauffman
• November 26, 2019
• Aircraft, Carriers, Equipment, Freighter Aircraft Transactions, Production Freighters

Qatar Airways took delivery of a 777F (66339) from Boeing [FAT 005240]. It is the sixth 777F the carrier has added to its fleet in 2019, and increases the number of 777Fs currently operating in the QR Cargo fleet to twenty-one. Shortly after being delivered to Qatar’s Doha (DOH) hub, the aircraft was placed into revenue service […]

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 […]

As Triumph idles 747 component production will Boeing follow?

• Charles Kauffman and Jeff Lee
• November 21, 2019
• Aircraft, Equipment, News, Production Freighters

The sole manufacturer of fuselage sections for Boeing’s 747 program, Triumph Group, has begun parting out its California factory and yesterday began auctioning off equipment. The company has built 747 fuselages for Boeing since the aircraft was launched in 1966. Boeing currently only has eighteen 747s left on firm order. All of them are -8Fs, […]

Freighters absent from Dubai Airshow 2019

• Charles Kauffman and Jeff Lee
• November 21, 2019
• Aircraft, News

The 2019 edition of the Dubai Airshow is behind us, but despite the appearance of Egyptair Cargo’s newest A330-200P2F (610) recently redelivered by EFW, there were no freighter orders to be seen, in stark contrast with the Paris Air Show this June, where we saw a large amount of activity with regard to freighters, particularly […]

Boeing boosts 767 production rate to 3 units per month

• Jeff Lee
• November 20, 2019
• Aircraft, Carriers, Express, News, Production Freighters, Strategy

Boeing is close to rolling out of its Everett factory the first 767 to be produced at the increased rate of three per month. The aircraft is the 1,201st 767 and will be a 767-300F for FedEx Express. Wing spars for this frame were loaded into the assembly line in July. After final assembly of […]

CAM receives second ex-ANA 767BCF to be placed with UPS

• Jeff Lee
• November 18, 2019
• Aircraft, Carriers, Conversions, News, Widebody Conversions

Air Transport Services Group’s (ATSG) leasing arm Cargo Aircraft Management (CAM) has taken redelivery of the second 767-300BCF (24632) it acquired from Japanese carrier ANA Cargo and plans to lease to Atlanta-based UPS. The aircraft was ferried from Tokyo (HND) to Wilmington (ILN) via Anchorage (ANC), arriving on the morning of Nov. 15. Unit 24632, which […]

Citilink deploys 737-500 in cargo configuration for Garuda, sans cargo door

• Charles Kauffman
• November 12, 2019
• Aircraft, All Posts, Carriers, Conversions, Equipment, Narrowbody Conversions

Indonesia-based Citilink, an affiliate carrier of Garuda Indonesia, has torn out the seats of a 737-500 (28727) that was previously in storage, and will begin operating the aircraft in cargo configuration. The aircraft in “Garuda Cargo” livery was unveiled at a Nov. 10 ceremony held at the Aeroasia hangar at Jakarta airport (CGK). A cargo […]