Freighters resist quarantine and spring back into action, for now

• Charles Kauffman
• March 18, 2020
• Aircraft, All Posts, Editorial, Equipment, Freighter Aircraft Transactions, News, Widebody Fleet Analysis

On March 15, ACE Belgium Freighters added to its fleet a second 747-400, an ERF variant (35169, ex-Jade Cargo) that previously operated on the AOC of affiliate carrier Israel-based CAL Cargo [FAT 005356]. After sitting idle since its ferry flight to Liege (LGG) on Feb. 2, the aircraft has since completed two roundtrip flights between […]

AirBridgeCargo seeks to cull 747F fleet

• Charles Kauffman and Jeff Lee
• March 10, 2020
• Aircraft, Capacity & Demand, Carriers, Editorial, Equipment, Logistics, News, Production Freighters, Strategy

Russia-based AirBridgeCargo (ABC) is in negotiations with lessors to terminate agreements on up to five 747 freighters. The carrier said it entered into discussions with its leasing partners late last year as air cargo demand slumped. In the fallout from the COVID-19 outbreak that has forced ABC to cancel flights, those talks have intensified in […]

CargoLogicAir on the brink?

• Charles Kauffman and Jeff Lee
• February 24, 2020
• Aircraft, Carriers, News, Production Freighters

U.K.-based CargoLogicAir (CLA) has idled its freighter fleet and has not operated any scheduled or charter flights since Feb. 9. Sources familiar with CargoLogicAir tell Cargo Facts that over 100 employees were dismissed this week after financial troubles drove the United Kingdom’s Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) to revoke the carrier’s operating license last week. According […]

Cargolux acquires CargoLogicAir 747

• Jeff Lee
• February 24, 2020
• Aircraft, Carriers, Equipment, Freighter Aircraft Transactions, News, Production Freighters, Strategy

A 747-400F previously operated by U.K.-based CargoLogicAir (CLA) has found a new owner in Cargolux, bringing the Luxembourg-based carrier’s all-747 fleet back to thirty units [FAT 005335]. According to the U.K. Civil Aviation Authority, the aircraft (35170, ex-AirBridgeCargo) was deregistered Feb. 19. It was parked in Leipzig (LEJ) on Dec. 30, and brought to Sharjah […]

Top widebody freighter developments of 2019

• Jeff Lee
• January 3, 2020
• Aircraft, Carriers, Conversions, Equipment, Production Freighters, Widebody Conversions

As the first week of 2020 draws to a close, we look back and reflect on some of the most important and newsworthy developments affecting freighter aircraft types in 2019, starting with widebodies. To begin with, we note that while stories involving the 747 are consistently among our most popular, in 2019 this seemed to […]

CargoLogic Germany 737F fleet grows to three units

• Jeff Lee
• December 4, 2019
• Aircraft, Carriers, Conversions, Freighter Aircraft Transactions, Narrowbody Conversions, News, Strategy

CargoLogic Germany (CLG) has received its third freighter, courtesy of Russia-based ATRAN. The aircraft is a 737-400SF (25775, ex-Yamal Airlines) that is on lease from Vx Capital Partners [FATs 005245-005246]. Unit 25775 was converted by Aeronautical Engineers, Inc. (AEI) and redelivered to ATRAN in December 2018. Cargo Facts had expected it to join CLG’s fleet eventually, […]

As Triumph idles 747 component production will Boeing follow?

• Charles Kauffman and Jeff Lee
• November 21, 2019
• Aircraft, Equipment, News, Production Freighters

The sole manufacturer of fuselage sections for Boeing’s 747 program, Triumph Group, has begun parting out its California factory and yesterday began auctioning off equipment. The company has built 747 fuselages for Boeing since the aircraft was launched in 1966. Boeing currently only has eighteen 747s left on firm order. All of them are -8Fs, […]

CargoLogicAir to cut two 747Fs early next year

• Charles Kauffman and Jeff Lee
• November 1, 2019
• Aircraft, Capacity & Demand, Carriers, News, Production Freighters, Strategy

UK-based CargoLogicAir (CLA) will reduce its four-unit 747F fleet by two units next year, “because of the ongoing challenging market conditions,” according to a statement from the carrier. Following the reduction, CLA intends to continue operating two aircraft in ACMI service. The cuts are the latest prompted by CLA’s parent, the Volga-Dnepr Group, which earlier this […]