Cardig Air relaunches with 737-400F

• Charles Kauffman and Jeff Lee
• May 22, 2020
• Aircraft, Carriers, Editorial, Freighter Aircraft Transactions, Narrowbody Conversions, News, Strategy

Indonesia-based Cardig Air has relaunched operations after a couple of years of stagnation. The carrier recently acquired a 737-400F (25857, ex-British Airways) from Aero Acquisitions and began flying it May 18 [FAT 005420]. According to Indonesian ground handler JAS Airport Services, Cardig Air is flying the aircraft between Jakarta Halim Perdanakusuma Airport (HLP) and Pekanbaru […]

Vallair looks to sale-leasebacks during COVID-19

• Jeff Lee
• April 8, 2020
• Aircraft, Carriers, Conversions, Equipment, Narrowbody Conversions, Strategy

The COVID-19 crisis is providing Luxembourg-based Vallair an opportunity to grow its portfolio of A321s and further its strategy of specializing in freighter-converted narrowbodies. Vallair told Cargo Facts it is actively exploring sale-leaseback deals with A321 operators, with a view to converting the aircraft into freighter configuration at a later stage when conversion slots open. The […]

EFW to begin A321 conversions at Guangzhou site

• Jeff Lee
• March 9, 2020
• Aircraft, Carriers, Conversions, Equipment, Exclusive, Narrowbody Conversions, News, Strategy

Elbe Flugzeugwerke (EFW), the joint venture between Airbus and ST Engineering Aerospace, will start converting A321-200s into freighter configuration at a second site in Guangzhou later this year, in addition to the ST Engineering facility in Singapore (XSP). Luxembourg-based Vallair told Cargo Facts that its next three A321s to be converted by EFW will likely all be converted at […]

EFW granted STC for A321P2F

• Jeff Lee
• February 21, 2020
• Aircraft, Carriers, Conversions, Equipment, Exclusive, Narrowbody Conversions, News

Elbe Flugzeugwerke (EFW), the joint venture between Airbus and ST Engineering, has received the supplemental type certificate (STC) for its A321P2F program from the European Union Aviation Safety Agency. EFW told Cargo Facts that EASA granted the certificate Feb. 20, so A321P2F conversions can begin to be redelivered. But EFW said that the first aircraft […]

Connect Cargo freighters grounded

• Jeff Lee
• February 17, 2020
• Aircraft, Carriers, Conversions, Narrowbody Conversions, News

Brazilian startup Connect Cargo’s two leased 737-400Fs are currently grounded and could end up being repossessed by Luxembourg-based Vallair. According to ANAC, Brazil’s National Civil Aviation Agency, the two aircraft are no longer cleared for commercial flights. Connect Cargo, which only completed its Part 121 certification with ANAC and was granted its AOC in June […]

Qantas signs LOI for second A321F

• Jeff Lee
• February 12, 2020
• Aircraft, Carriers, Conversions, Equipment, Narrowbody Conversions, News

Australian carrier Qantas has signed a letter of intent with Keystone Holdings to convert and lease an A321P2F, the airline’s second freighter of the kind. The aircraft is expected to be redelivered by the end of 2021, after conversion at the ST Aerospace facility in Singapore (XSP) by Elbe Flugzeugwerke (EFW), a joint venture between […]

ASL grows its 737 Classic fleet

• Charles Kauffman
• February 10, 2020
• Aircraft, Carriers, Conversions, Equipment, Freighter Aircraft Transactions, Narrowbody Conversions, News, Strategy

ASL Airlines Ireland has added a 737-400F (29204, ex-Yamal Airlines) on lease from Royal Aero GmbH [FAT 005319].   The delivery highlights the willingness of ACMI operators to continue adding to their fleets 737 Classic conversions while feedstock for 737 NG conversions remains in short supply. Last week at Cargo Facts EMEA in Frankfurt, panelists in a roundtable discussion on the topic of freighter conversions […]

First A321P2F takes to the skies

• Jeff Lee
• January 22, 2020
• Aircraft, Conversions, Engines, Equipment, Narrowbody Conversions, News

The very first freighter-converted A321-200F became airborne today, carrying out its first post-conversion flight over Singapore for approximately twenty minutes. The test confirms that the aircraft (835, ex-Onur Air) has finally received its two IAE V2500 engines. In October 2019, Elbe Flugzeugwerke (EFW), the joint venture between Airbus and ST Aerospace, said the Supplemental Type […]