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 […]

EFW unaffected by Italian lockdown

• Jeff Lee
• March 19, 2020
• Aircraft, Conversions, Narrowbody Conversions, News, Widebody Conversions

Despite the Italian government’s extension today of the country’s COVID-19 lockdown to April, Elbe Flugzeugwerke (EFW), which uses parts supplied from Italy for its A330P2F, remains unaffected for now. Sources close to the matter told Cargo Facts that while the conversion program is dependent on thousands of parts supplied from a range of countries, and […]

AA accelerates fleet retirements, frees up feedstock

• Jeff Lee
• March 17, 2020
• Aircraft, Capacity & Demand, Carriers, Conversions, Engines, Equipment, Narrowbody Conversions, News, Strategy

American Airlines’ plans to accelerate the retirement of its older aircraft in light of the sharp drop in passenger traffic due to the COVID-19 pandemic will result in a feedstock situation that could be attractive for those looking to add 757 freighters. Apart from cutting much of its international traffic, Doug Parker, CEO of American […]

EFW begins converting young A330 for DHL

• Jeff Lee
• March 12, 2020
• Aircraft, Carriers, Conversions, Equipment, Freighter Aircraft Transactions, News, Strategy, Widebody Conversions

The youngest A330 to be sent for conversion arrived at the Elbe Flugzeugwerke (EFW) facility in Dresden (DRS) on March 10. The A330-300 (1124) previously in service with Hong Kong Airlines, is just under ten years old. EFW confirmed to Cargo Facts the aircraft has been inducted for conversion into freighter configuration [FAT 005354], and […]

DHL to add five more 777Fs this year

• Jeff Lee
• February 24, 2020
• Aircraft, Carriers, Express, News, Production Freighters

DHL Express has given an updated timeline of its 777F deliveries this year and expects to receive five more units before the end of 2020. The express integrator has already taken delivery of one 777F (66083) this year. Unit 66083, ferried from Paine Field (PAE) to Oscoda (OSC) on Feb. 6, was then brought to […]

DHL hands over first 777F to Kalitta

• Jeff Lee
• February 14, 2020
• Aircraft, Carriers, Equipment, Express, News, Production Freighters, Strategy

DHL Express has taken delivery of the first 777F that it will hand over to U.S.-based Kalitta Air to be operated on a CMI basis [FATs 005329-005330]. The aircraft (66083) was ferried from Paine Field (PAE) to Oscoda (OSC) on Feb. 6. Kalitta is the third CMI operator of 777Fs owned by DHL, and is also set […]

DHL to hand over more 777Fs to Kalitta

• Jeff Lee
• January 31, 2020
• Aircraft, Carriers, Equipment, Express, Production Freighters, Strategy

U.S.-based Kalitta Air will become the third CMI operator of 777Fs owned by DHL Express. The next 777F (66083) destined for delivery to DHL features the full yellow livery of the express integrator, with “Operated by Kalitta Air” featured near the cockpit windows, like 777Fs operated on a CMI basis by other carriers for DHL. Unit 66083 […]

Kalitta converts freighter into pax configuration for Wuhan evacuation ops

• Charles Kauffman
• January 29, 2020
• Aircraft, All Posts, Carriers, Editorial, Equipment, News

Kalitta Air temporarily installed passenger seats on one of its 747-400Fs in order to evacuate more than 200 Americans from Wuhan, China, the epicenter of the new coronavirus. The aircraft (26413, ex-Korean Air) was chartered by the U.S. State Department. At numerous MRO sites around the world, aircraft that previously operated in passenger configuration can […]