CF EMEA 2019: lower asset utilization fuels European express market’s appetite for converted 767Fs

Low utilization rates and inefficient packaging are driving European express demand for freighter-converted 767Fs, said panelists at this week’s first-ever Cargo Facts EMEA event in Frankfurt. Dr. Joerg Andriof, Chief Operating Officer, Titan Aircraft Leasing, told delegates that the most efficient express networks in Europe utilize feeder aircraft, 737Fs, and 767Fs. “On the trunk routes […]

• Caryn Livingston
• February 7, 2019

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

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 […]

• Charles Kauffman
• August 17, 2018

The freighter conversion landscape: Part II

Yesterday we began our analysis of the changing freighter conversion market with a look at how the conversion landscape has evolved from a long period of very little change, to the current point of transition to a whole new landscape. You can read Part I here, and today we continue, first with some thoughts about how […]

• David Harris
• December 19, 2017

FedEx is the Launch Customer for ATR’s new production freighter

ATR signed an agreement with FedEx for the purchase of thirty ATR 72-600Fs, with options for twenty more. This will be ATR’s first production freighter. Until now, any carrier or lessor that wanted a turboprop freighter had to first acquire a used passenger unit, and then have it converted to freighter configuration. Most such conversions […]

• David Harris
• November 8, 2017

The turboprop freighter fleet in 2017 — Part III

In Parts I and II of this analysis we looked at the turboprop freighter fleet in detail, breaking it down by operator, and discussing the changes to the fleet in the last year on a type-by-type basis. But turboprop aircraft are not the only choice for operators looking for small freighters, and today we examine two […]

• David Harris
• July 12, 2017

Solenta Aviation to fly newly-converted ATR-72F for DHL

Yesterday, South Africa-based Solenta Aviation took redelivery of an ATR72-200F, converted to large-door freighter configuration by Switzerland-based IPR Conversions Ltd., at its ASI-Maintenance facility in Toulouse, France. IPR holds the STCs to perform both bulk-load and large-door modifications on the ATR72-200 and -500 series turboprobs. The first STC is for what IPR refers to as […]

• Charles Kauffman
• March 28, 2017

Expanded STC for IPR

Switzerland-based IPR Conversions received an extension to its EASA-issued ATR conversion STCs, and can now perform conversions on variants of the ATR42/72-500 series. The newly-expanded STC covers both its large cargo door and structural tube conversions. Until now, all of IPR’s conversion have been completed in Toulouse. A steady flow of conversion orders however, has […]

• David Harris
• January 1, 2017

IPR redelivers its first large-door ATR72 converted freighter

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 […]

• David Harris
• August 25, 2016