Asiana ponders freighter fleet renewal

• Jeff Lee
• July 2, 2020
• Aircraft, Carriers, Editorial, Equipment, News, Production Freighters, Strategy, Widebody Conversions

Amid an ongoing deal to be acquired by a consortium led by HDC Group, South Korea-based Asiana Airlines is looking toward the renewal of its freighter fleet, currently consisting of seven 747-400BDSFs, four 747-400Fs and one 767-300F, along with a parked 747-400BDSF. Asiana Cargo told Cargo Facts it is considering upgrading its fleet with 777Fs […]

Despite near-term air cargo bump, FedEx rejigs aircraft deliveries

• Charles Kauffman
• July 1, 2020
• Aircraft, All Posts, Carriers, E-Commerce, Earnings, Editorial, Equipment, Logistics, Production Freighters

The COVID-19 pandemic kicked FedEx’s flight operations into high gear during the fourth quarter of its fiscal year 2020, ended May 31. The favorable demand that surfaced following passenger flight cancellations enabled FedEx to make up for lost ground in Q4 with additional flight segments and a surge in charter activity. While capacity cuts and […]

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 […]

China Eastern revealed as customer behind two 777Fs

• Jeff Lee
• June 25, 2020
• Aircraft, Carriers, Editorial, Equipment, Logistics, News, Production Freighters, Strategy

The mystery is no more — the customer for the two 777Fs Volga-Dnepr Group tried to stop Boeing from selling is China Eastern. The order had been attributed to an unidentified customer in Boeing’s tally for May [FATs 005483-005484]. The first aircraft (66623) was seen returning from a test flight at Boeing’s Everett (PAE) facility, […]

Qatar Airways hits the brakes on freighter deliveries

• Jeff Lee
• June 22, 2020
• Aircraft, Carriers, News, Strategy

With CEO Akbar Al Baker telling U.K.-based Sky News that Qatar Airways will not be taking delivery of any new aircraft in 2020 or 2021, the airline’s cargo fleet will remain static at the end of the year for the first time since 2013, when it withdrew its A300-600Fs from service. All the aircraft on […]

More 737-800BCFs for Amazon Air

• Charles Kauffman and Jeff Lee
• June 11, 2020
• Aircraft, All Posts, Carriers, Conversions, Editorial, Narrowbody Conversions, News

At least nine more 737-800BCFs are on their way to join Amazon Air, Cargo Facts has discovered. The e-tailer has already added to its fleet four 737s since late April. Sun Country Airlines is committed to operating six more 737-800BCFs on a CMI basis for Amazon, which is leasing them from GECAS. But beyond those […]

Boeing nabs freighter-only orders in May

• Charles Kauffman and Jeff Lee
• June 9, 2020
• Aircraft, Carriers, Editorial, Express, Freighter Aircraft Transactions, News, Production Freighters, Strategy, Widebody Conversions

Boeing secured firm orders for only nine aircraft in May, all relating to freighters, according to the planemaker’s orders and deliveries tally for the month. With the update, Boeing confirmed suspicions that UPS is the customer for a hotly contested 747-8F (63784) originally ordered by the Volga-Dnepr Group. FedEx also upped its official 767-300F backlog […]

Cargo Facts Connect: Volga v. Boeing, more Amazon freighters

• Charles Kauffman and Jeff Lee
• June 5, 2020
• Aircraft, All Posts, Carriers, Editorial, News, Podcast, Production Freighters, Strategy, Video, Widebody Conversions

Russia-based Volga-Dnepr has now been denied its motion for a temporary restraining order to stop Boeing from selling a 747-8F and three 777Fs that were originally destined for AirBridgeCargo. And notably, Amazon announced the addition of more 767-300Fs to its already significant fleet of freighters, and GECAS and Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) will soon kick […]