freighter aircraft

FedEx orders Boeing 777 and ATR cargo aircraft, delays MD-11 retirements

FedEx Corp. has exercised options to purchase eight additional Boeing 777 freighters from Boeing and pushed back retirement of the tri-engine MD-11 fleet in response to rising demand for international nonparcel freight service, the company said in third-quarter results.

On Friday, Toulouse, France-based ATR, a manufacturer of regional aircraft, announced that FedEx (NYSE: FDX) will acquire 10 extra ATR 72-600 turboprop freighter aircraft, with deliveries scheduled between 2027 and 2029.

FedEx...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/fedex-orders-boeing-777-and-atr-cargo-aircraft-delays-md-11-retirements

Turkey’s ULS Cargo Airlines to receive 1st A330 freighter in March

Air Transport Services Group, a major lessor and operator of freighter aircraft, expects to deliver its first Airbus A330-300 converted freighter this month to Turkey-based ULS Airlines Cargo and a second one in April, an industry source close to the company said. 

The Airbus A330-300 cargo jets are much larger than the three A310 converted freighters ULS Airlines Cargo currently operates from Istanbul Airport. 

Air Transport Services Group (NASDAQ: ATSG) said in Tuesday’s fourth-quarter earnings...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/turkeys-uls-cargo-airlines-to-receive-1st-a330-freighter-in-march

KF Aerospace acquires replacement aircraft for Purolator regional fleet

KF Aerospace is moving quickly to replace its fleet of 70-year-old turboprop freighters that provide feeder service in British Columbia for integrated parcel carrier Purolator Inc.

KF Aerospace, which provides heavy maintenance, airframe modifications, passenger charter operations and other aviation services, has exclusively operated Purolator’s air network in British Columbia since 2015 through its Kelowna Flightcraft division.

The company said on Tuesday it has acquired a used ATR72-500...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/kf-aerospace-acquires-replacement-aircraft-for-purolator-regional-fleet

Emirates leases additional Boeing 747 freighters to meet shipper demand

Emirates, the fourth-largest cargo airline in the world by traffic carried and No. 2 in passengers, said Wednesday it has increased main-deck cargo capacity by 15% with the wet lease of two additional Boeing 747-400 freighters to meet surging demand. 

The large all-cargo aircraft are being rented under a multiyear transportation services agreement with Bulgaria-based Compass Cargo Airlines, the Dubai-based carrier said in a news release.

“We anticipate that demand will continue to boom,...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/emirates-leases-additional-boeing-747-freighters-to-meet-shipper-demand

All-cargo airlines expand capacity on Europe-Asia routes to start 2025

Several freighter operators in the first week of the year introduced new air services connecting European cities to markets in Asia and the Middle East, giving shippers more options for moving freight on strong trade lanes.

The most robust capacity addition comes from Maersk Air Cargo, the cargo airline of ocean shipping logistics integrator A.P. Moller Maersk, which has begun operating Boeing 767 freighters six times per week between its home base in Billund, Denmark, and Zhengzhou, the capital...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/all-cargo-airlines-expand-capacity-on-europe-asia-routes-to-start-2025

FedEx makes big push for third-party air cargo

Premium international air cargo, traditionally palletized and booked by logistics companies on commercial airlines, is one of four B2B market segments parcel carrier FedEx Corp. will target for growth next year as the expiration of a large U.S. Postal Service contract frees up aircraft for other uses, company leaders say.

“The airfreight market is fragmented and the shipping processes are antiquated. It’s a market ripe for disruption,” Chief Customer Officer Brie Carere said Thursday during...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/fedex-makes-big-push-for-third-party-air-cargo

Air Canada leases surplus Boeing 767 freighter aircraft to Ethiopian Airlines

Air Canada has leased out two lightly used Boeing 767-300 freighter aircraft to Ethiopian Airlines, the largest passenger carrier in Africa and a rising player in the air cargo market with 17 dedicated freighters, FreightWaves has learned.

Air Canada (TSX: AC) pulled the factory-built Boeing 767 cargo jets, which are 2 years old, from its fleet in the second quarter because it didn’t have enough business to operate them economically. They have been at an airframe services and maintenance...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/air-canada-leases-surplus-boeing-767-freighter-aircraft-to-ethiopian-airlines

Analysts predict air cargo bull market will cool 50% in 2025

MIAMI BEACH, Fla. – Prominent industry stakeholders are cautioning that the 2025 growth rate in air cargo volumes could be cut by half, or more, from this year’s elevated levels. The prognostications coincide with data showing demand momentum for air cargo continued in November, traditionally a super busy month when traffic reaches its high point of the year. 

Expectations for air cargo heading into 2024 were for 1% to 2% growth. After 12 consecutive months of double-digit gains and elevated...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/analysts-predict-air-cargo-bull-market-will-cool-50-in-2025

E-commerce to drive air cargo industry expansion through 2043

MIAMI BEACH, Fla. – Express shipments will account for a quarter of all air cargo business by 2043 as e-commerce sales growth outpaces general cargo by a wide margin, contributing to a two-thirds increase in the global freighter fleet to meet shipping demand, according to Boeing’s latest outlook.

Interest in factory-built cargo jets and passenger-to-freighter conversions is also rising, despite the broad availability of international widebody passenger flights with copious shipment space,...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/e-commerce-to-drive-air-cargo-industry-expansion-through-2043

Avianca faces delivery delays for Airbus converted freighters

The cargo division of South American airline Avianca had the same cargo revenue in the third quarter as last year, despite a reduction in freighter aircraft. But delivery of aircraft to replenish the fleet has been pushed back by six months or more, according to the latest timetable from the company, which could inhibit growth. 

Still, Avianca has been able to add some capacity in the European market courtesy of a new flight operated by alliance partner Turkish Airlines.

Colombia-based Avianca...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/avianca-faces-delivery-delays-for-airbus-converted-freighters

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