Hawaiian adds third ATR 72-200F

• Jeff Lee
• August 15, 2019
• Aircraft, All Posts, Carriers, Features, Freighter Aircraft Transactions, News, Strategy

Hawaiian Airlines has taken redelivery of a third ATR 72-200F for subsidiary ‘Ohana and deployed the aircraft (432, ex-First Air) in revenue service yesterday, flying from Honolulu (HNL) to Lihue (LIH) [FAT 005060]. All of ‘Ohana’s ATRs are operated by Idaho-based Empire Airlines. Empire tells Cargo Facts that unit 432, which was inducted for conversion […]

Executives from DHL Express and SF Express to speak at Cargo Facts Symposium

• Charles Kauffman
• July 23, 2019
• All Posts, Features

The lineup of air cargo industry legends speaking at the 25th Annual Cargo Facts Symposium in San Diego has recently expanded to include Rob Hyslop, SVP of Global Aviation, DHL Express, and George Li, Group VP, SF Express. Cargo Facts Symposium 2019 will be held 16-18 October at the Intercontinental San Diego. For more information, […]

Turboprop freighter fleet analysis 2019: A stable niche or still nascent?

• Charles Kauffman
• July 18, 2019
• Carriers, Conversions, Features, News, Regional Fleet Analysis

The turboprop freighter fleet for aircraft with payloads of 3.8 - 8.8 tonnes grew by just 7% year-over-year to 181 units in June 2019, up 12 units from a total of 169 the year prior. While growth of 7% wouldn’t be unimpressive on its own, many of the additions this year stemmed from the reactivation […]

Cebu Pacific takes redelivery of first IPR-converted ATR 72F

• Jeff Lee
• July 18, 2019
• Aircraft, All Posts, Capacity & Demand, Carriers, Conversions, Features, Freighter Aircraft Transactions, News, Strategy

IPR Conversions redelivered the first of two passenger-to-freighter converted ATR 72-500Fs to Philippines-based Cebu Pacific [FAT 005059]. The aircraft (820) was previously part of Cebu Pacific’s own passenger fleet and will be the airline’s first dedicated freighter. After making a couple of short test flights around Dinard (DNR), France, where the aircraft was converted to […]

Hawaiian Airlines puts first two ATR 72-200Fs into scheduled service

• Charles Kauffman
• August 17, 2018
• Aircraft, Carriers, Conversions, News

The regional carrier of Hawaiian Airlines, Ohana, has launched scheduled inter-island cargo flights to Lihue (LIH) and Hilo (ITO) from its base at Honolulu Airport (HNL), with a pair of ATR 72-200Fs operated by Idaho-based Empire Airlines. Although Ohana’s first ATR 72-200F arrived in Hawaii last year, the carrier has only utilized the aircraft for test […]

FedEx launches “Purple Runway” to alleviate potential pilot shortage

• Nina Chamlou
• April 3, 2018
• Aircraft, Carriers, Express, Strategy

FedEx, in cooperation with Empire Airlines and Mountain Air Cargo, yesterday launched “Purple Runway,” a new pilot development program, that will “promote student interest in aviation careers at selected colleges and universities,” in the expectation of ensuring a steady supply of pilots in a market in which qualified pilots are increasingly scarce. The seeds of […]

Pilot shortage inhibiting growth of regional carriers

• Charles Kauffman
• October 13, 2016
• News

MIAMI- At this year’s Cargo Facts Symposium in Miami, Tim Komberec, president of Idaho-based Empire Airlines spoke on a round-table panel discussion of issues facing all-cargo carriers. Although market conditions have enabled Empire to enjoy steady growth over the years, Komberec said that for the first time in his career, his airline had stopped pursuing growth […]

IPR redelivers its first large-door ATR72 converted freighter

• David Harris
• August 25, 2016
• Aircraft, Conversions, News, Video

Switzerland-based IPR Conversions redelivered an ATR72-202F to Canada’s Summit Air following conversion to large cargo door configuration. This redelivery is something of a milestone not just for IPR and Summit, but for the air freight and express industry as well. In 2002, ATR began offering passenger-to-freighter conversion of ATR42 and ATR72 turboprop aircraft through Alenia […]