BBAM quietly forays into next-gen narrowbody conversions

• Jeff Lee
• September 11, 2019
• Aircraft, Carriers, Conversions, Narrowbody Conversions, Strategy

San Francisco-headquartered BBAM is gradually expanding its footprint in the next-generation narrowbody conversion space, and with the recent redeliveries to China Postal Airlines, the lessor has become the first known lessor to have ordered conversions for both the 737 NG and the A321. China Postal received its first 737-800BCF in August 2019 and the second […]

China Postal fleet renewal accelerates with redelivery of second 737-800BCF

• Charles Kauffman and Jeff Lee
• September 6, 2019
• Aircraft, All Posts, Carriers, Conversions, Freighter Aircraft Transactions, Narrowbody Conversions, News, Strategy

And then there were two. China Postal Airlines has taken redelivery of its second 737-800BCF (30787, ex-China Southern Airlines), on lease from BBAM [FATs 005125-5126]. The aircraft departed Jinan Airport (TNA) following conversion by Boeing at Taikoo (Shandong) Aircraft Engineering Co., Ltd. (STAECO). After a stop at Seoul Incheon Airport (ICN), the aircraft arrived at […]

China Postal receives first 737-800BCF

• Charles Kauffman
• August 8, 2019
• Aircraft, All Posts, Capacity & Demand, Carriers, E-Commerce, Express, Features, Freighter Aircraft Transactions, News, Strategy

Earlier this week, China Postal Airlines took redelivery of its first 737-800BCF (30786, ex-China Southern Airlines), on lease from BBAM [FATs 005087-005088]. The air arm of China Post expects to become the first 737-800BCF operator in China, though we note it was not actually the first Chinese carrier to take redelivery of a -800BCF. That […]

GAMECO angling for narrowbody freighter conversions with new maintenance lines

• Charles Kauffman
• July 16, 2019
• All Posts, Conversions, Features

Guangzhou Aircraft Maintenance Engineering Co., Ltd. (GAMECO), in which China Southern holds a 50% stake, is in the process of constructing a third hangar with up to eleven maintenance lines as it seeks to support China Southern’s growing fleet and increase its involvement with third-party projects including passenger-to-freighter conversions and freighter maintenance. GAMECO broke ground […]

PEMCO prepares to convert fourth 737-300 for Rostrum Leasing

• Jeff Lee
• July 12, 2019
• Aircraft, All Posts, Conversions, Features, Freighter Aircraft Transactions, Narrowbody Conversions, News, Strategy

On July 10, a 737-300 (27710, ex-Southwest) was ferried from storage in Victorville (VCV) to Tampa (TPA). PEMCO Conversions confirmed to Cargo Facts that this aircraft is due to be inducted for conversion into freighter configuration at its TPA facility, and that the customer will be Ireland-based Rostrum Leasing. PEMCO said that unit 27710 will […]

ASL signs MoU for up to 20 737-800BCFs

• Jeff Lee
• June 19, 2019
• Aircraft, All Posts, Carriers, Conversions, Express, Freighter Aircraft Transactions, News

Ireland-based ASL Aviation Holdings placed a firm order for ten 737-800BCFs with purchase rights for an additional ten, in a memorandum of understanding signed with Boeing today at the Paris Air Show [FATs 004986-5005]. While these will be the first 737-800BCFs to be owned by ASL itself, the company has, since last year, already been […]

Tianjin Air Cargo prepares to add China’s first 737-800BCF

• Jeff Lee
• June 18, 2019
• Aircraft, All Posts, Carriers, Conversions

HNA Group subsidiary Tianjin Air Cargo added a 737-800BCF (32602, ex-Hainan Airlines), on lease from Spectre Air Capital, following conversion to freighter configuration by Boeing at the STAECO facility in Jinan (TNA) [FATs 004944-4945]. When the aircraft commences operations, it could be symbolic for a number of reasons. Not only would it be the first 737-NG […]

SpiceXpress’ second 737-700F converted at Haite in Tianjin

• Charles Kauffman
• April 22, 2019
• All Posts, Cargo Facts Asia, Carriers, Conversions

On 18 April, Bedek redelivered a 737-700BDSF (30512, ex-Xiamen Airlines) to Spectre Air Capital, following conversion to freighter configuration at the Haite Facility in Tianjin. Just hours before the Cargo Facts team departed Shanghai following a successful Cargo Facts Asia, the aircraft departed Tianjin Binhai Airport (TSN) and was ferried to New Delhi Airport (DEL), […]