Qantas to add A321P2Fs, but from whom?

Australian carrier Qantas will introduce up to three passenger-to-freighter converted A321s to its fleet, as part of an expanded seven-year agreement signed with Australia Post [FATs 005092-5093]. With the first aircraft entering into service in October 2020, the A321P2Fs will be flying exclusively for Australia Post, which has had an airmail agreement with Qantas since […]

• Charles Kauffman and Jeff Lee
• August 12, 2019

Freighter aircraft leasing part II: E-commerce behind growing leasing market

Last week, we began our two-part annual analysis of the increasingly complex world of freighter aircraft leasing. In part I, we started with an overview of how the freighter fleet belonging to lessors has evolved since our analysis a year ago. In part II, we consider the leased fleet by carrier, and how year-over-year shifts […]

• Jeff Lee
• July 19, 2019

Titan Airways receives second 737-400SF; expects first A321P2F by year-end 2020

U.K.-based Titan Airways has taken redelivery of its second 737-400SF from Aeronautical Engineers, Inc. (AEI) [FAT 005041-5042]. The aircraft (25853, ex-British Airways), on lease from Automatic LLC and previously part of Titan’s own passenger fleet, was inducted for conversion at the Commercial Jet facility in Dothan, Alabama (DHN), in October 2018. It was ferried from […]

• Jeff Lee
• July 11, 2019

BBAM inks LOI for an EFW A321P2F

San Francisco-based lessor BBAM signed a letter of intent with Elbe Flugzeugwerke (EFW) for one A321 passenger-to-freighter conversion yesterday at the Paris Air Show [FAT 005020]. The order represents EFW’s first order for its A321 passenger-to-freighter conversion program since Luxembourg-based Vallair placed a ten-aircraft launch order last February. As for BBAM, this is the company’s […]

• Jeff Lee
• June 20, 2019

Freighter aircraft transactions through the first half of April

Every week in Cargo Facts Update, we include a list of recent freighter aircraft transactions, and then a comprehensive summary in the monthly issue of Cargo Facts. Each reference to a freighter aircraft transaction (FAT) in our publications contains a unique FAT code linked to the FAT database on the CargoFacts.com website. This database is […]

• Caryn Livingston and Charles Kauffman
• April 15, 2019

Vallair set to offer A321 converted freighters in 1Q 2020

Luxembourg-based lessor Vallair, which signed on as the launch customer for both EFW’s and 321 Precision Conversions’ A321 passenger-to-freighter conversion programs, is set to begin offering A321 freighters converted by both companies for lease during the first quarter of 2020, according to listings on MyAirTrade.  Back in April 2018, Vallair confirmed it had picked up six A321-200s intended for conversion with EFW and 321 Precision. Vallair put […]

• Caryn Livingston
• February 22, 2019

Cargo Facts 2018: Which engine will drive the narrowbody conversion market?

SAN DIEGO – Major conversion houses agreed that, more than shortages in aircraft feedstock, the difficulty in sourcing aircraft engines at reasonable prices for passenger-to-freighter conversions will more significantly limit the number of conversions during the next few years, speakers at today’s Cargo Facts Symposium said. Responding to a question on how many conversions available […]

• Caryn Livingston
• October 12, 2018

Longhao launches first international cargo flights

Today, Guangzhou-based Longhao Airlines became the latest carrier in China to commence scheduled international freighter operations with the launch of three-times weekly 737-300F flights between Xi’an Xianyang Airport (XIA) in Central China and Hanoi Noi Bai Airport (HAN) in Vietnam. Longhao’s flight network is expanding as it prepares to put a fourth 737-300F into commercial […]

• Charles Kauffman
• September 27, 2018