Top 25 carrier rankings scrambled by fleet changes

• Charles Kauffman and Jeff Lee
• August 12, 2020
• Aircraft, Capacity & Demand, Carriers, Editorial, Equipment, Features, Freighter Fleet Analysis, Logistics, News, Production Freighters, Strategy, Widebody Conversions

While the mix of carriers in the top-five bracket remained the same in 2019, the order in which they are ranked looks very different compared to a year ago, thanks to changes to their freighter fleets.  In our list of Top 25 Carriers by total FTKs, the top five leaders collectively added a net of twenty-three freighters in 2019. The […]

DHL continues 767 growth despite A330 backlog

• Charles Kauffman and Jeff Lee
• July 22, 2020
• Aircraft, Carriers, Conversions, Editorial, Equipment, Express, Freighter Aircraft Transactions, Narrowbody Conversions, News, Production Freighters, Strategy, Widebody Conversions

DHL Express will grow its freighter fleet with the addition of four Boeing-converted 767-300BCFs, the two companies announced today in conjunction with the virtual presentation of the Farnborough International Airshow. [FATs 005511-005514]. DHL continues to order 767 conversions although it still has a firm order for four more EFW-converted A330-300P2Fs, widely seen as the long-term […]

AeroLogic secures CMI deal for DHL 777F, more up for grabs

• Charles Kauffman
• July 10, 2020
• Aircraft, All Posts, Carriers, Editorial, Equipment, Freighter Aircraft Transactions, Logistics, Production Freighters, Strategy

The forthcoming 777F (66086) delivery for DHL Express expected from Boeing later this month will be handed over to AeroLogic for operation on a CMI basis, DHL has confirmed to Cargo Facts. The express company expects to take delivery of three more 777Fs this year, including 66086, for a total of six 777F deliveries for […]

DHL to add three 767Fs with IAI conversion order

• Jeff Lee
• June 23, 2020
• Aircraft, Carriers, Editorial, Equipment, Express, Freighter Aircraft Transactions, Logistics, News, Strategy, Widebody Conversions

DHL Express will grow its owned fleet with three more 767-300Fs, under a new conversion deal with Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI), and also has the option to convert another 767 with IAI [FATs 005471-005473]. IAI told Cargo Facts the aircraft will be converted at the Mexicana MRO Services facility in Mexico City (MEX), and expects the […]

Capacity crunch thrusts idled Southern Air 777F back into service

• Jeff Lee
• April 28, 2020
• Aircraft, Capacity & Demand, Carriers, Equipment, Express, Freighter Aircraft Transactions, News, Production Freighters, Strategy

A 777F that has been sitting on the ground for almost a year has taken to the skies again, thanks to the COVID-19 crisis and the widespread shortage of airfreight capacity. The aircraft (35606) is owned by Titan Aviation, the dry-leasing arm of Atlas Air, and was previously operated by Emirates until January 2019. It […]

Wallace on Kalitta’s COVID-19 operations

• Jeff Lee
• March 27, 2020
• Aircraft, Capacity & Demand, Carriers, Conversions, Editorial, Equipment, Podcast, Production Freighters, Strategy, Widebody Conversions

For a cargo carrier like U.S.-based Kalitta Air, which specializes in ACMI and charter operations, the COVID-19 pandemic and its ensuing capacity crunch has resulted in extremely high fleet utilization, as shippers and forwarders have turned to freighter operators for help in flying their freight. Of course, one factor working in Kalitta’s favor is its […]

Kalitta sees record fleet utilization

• Jeff Lee
• March 23, 2020
• Aircraft, Capacity & Demand, Carriers, Conversions, Equipment, News, Production Freighters, Strategy, Widebody Conversions

U.S.-based ACMI and charter operator Kalitta Air is experiencing one of the highest fleet utilization rates in its history. As much of the passenger fleet around the world is parked in storage for at least the next couple of months to slow the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic, cargo carriers are benefiting from the ensuing […]

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 […]