Boeing 2020 CMO: Freighters resilient but not immune to COVID challenges

• Charles Kauffman
• October 6, 2020
• Aircraft, All Posts, Capacity & Demand, Carriers, Conversions, Editorial, Equipment, Logistics, Narrowbody Conversions, Production Freighters, Widebody Conversions

The global freighter fleet is expected to grow to 3,260 freighters over the next two decades, representing an increase of 63% from the current fleet of 2,010 freighters, according to an update to Boeing’s Commercial Market Outlook (CMO). Compared to passenger aircraft, the dislocation from the COVID-19 crisis to freighter demand is expected to be […]

Lufthansa grows 777F fleet, continues to fly MD-11Fs

• Charles Kauffman
• September 29, 2020
• Aircraft, All Posts, Editorial, Equipment, Freighter Aircraft Transactions, News, Production Freighters, Strategy, Widebody Fleet Analysis

Lufthansa Cargo has taken delivery of a 777F from Boeing (66912), growing its own-operated 777F fleet to nine units [FAT 005642]. The twin-engine freighters, being added to replace the six remaining MD-11Fs in the Lufthansa Cargo fleet, will operate alongside the tri-engine aircraft beyond the end of this year. Although fleet plans originally called for […]

First factory-built ATR 72-600F commences flight tests

• Charles Kauffman
• September 16, 2020
• Aircraft, All Posts, Editorial, Equipment, Express, News, Production Freighters

The first new-build ATR 72-600F took to the skies over Toulouse (TLS) today and completed a two-hour flight test. Unlike the existing ATR freighter fleet, which is comprised of freighter-converted passenger units, this is the first program from the Airbus and Leonardo joint venture to deliver aircraft in cargo configuration, with a large cargo door […]

Volga-Dnepr and Boeing in legal spat over order backlog

• Charles Kauffman and Jeff Lee
• June 1, 2020
• Aircraft, All Posts, Business, Carriers, Equipment, Freighter Fleet Analysis, News, Production Freighters, Strategy, Widebody Fleet Analysis

Volga-Dnepr Group, through its U.K. affiliate, is motioning for a temporary restraining order against Boeing in an attempt to reclaim delivery rights to a 747-8F and three 777Fs Boeing began remarketing earlier this year, after the group signaled earlier this year that it was no longer in a position to take delivery of the aircraft. […]

Cessna SkyCourier commences flight testing

• Charles Kauffman
• May 19, 2020
• Aircraft, All Posts, Carriers, Equipment, News

Textron Aviation completed a two hour and fifteen minute test flight for its in-development Cessna SkyCourier turboprop aircraft May 17. During the flight, test pilots evaluated the aircraft’s stability and control, as well as propulsion, environmental, flight controls and avionics systems. In the coming months, subsequent tests utilizing the prototype and other ground test units […]

Cargolux ushers in 50th business year with 2019 net profit

• Charles Kauffman
• April 29, 2020
• All Posts, Carriers, Editorial, Equipment, News, Production Freighters

All-cargo carrier Cargolux reported a net profit of $20.2 million in 2019, on total revenues that were down 14.2% to $2.26 billion. The lower net profit represents a 90% decrease from the previous year’s net income of $211.2 million but is otherwise decent for a year that saw a 3.3% decline in overall cargo traffic, […]

CargoLogicAir may reactivate AOC amid pandemic

• Charles Kauffman
• April 17, 2020
• All Posts, Editorial, Equipment, News, Production Freighters

The very crisis that was seen as the death knell for U.K.-based CargoLogicAir (CLA) could soon reintroduce its idled fleet to the skies under the carrier’s own AOC. CargoLogicAir is working with the U.K. Civil Aviation Authority, or CAA, to reactivate its AOC in a move that would enable CLA to redeploy its 747-400F fleet […]

Turkish Cargo continues to grow fleet

• Charles Kauffman
• January 27, 2020
• Aircraft, Equipment, News

Turkish Cargo took delivery of a production freighter from Boeing on Jan. 23 (64240) [FAT 005297]. Since adding its first 777F in December 2017, the cargo arm of Turkish Airlines has rapidly grown its 777F fleet to seven units. Although both Qatar Airways and FedEx added more 777Fs than Turkish Cargo during the same period […]