Singapore Airlines is preparing for the arrival of its first A350F as it continues to manage the hurdles challenging the freighter market. The airline will gradually retire its 747-400Fs as Airbus starts delivering its new large-widebody in 2026, but no estimate has been given for when the transition will be complete. Marvin Tan, senior vice president of cargo at Singapore Airlines, speaking at Cargo Facts Asia 2024. (Photo/Cargo Facts) “It’s really a lot of work, and rightly so,” Singapore Airlines Senior Vice President of Cargo Marvin Tan said during a fireside chat at Cargo Facts Asia 2024 ..read more

China Airlines continues to evaluate ways to reduce operational costs and increase efficiency as it transitions from 747-400 production freighters to 777Fs. The Taiwan-based carrier sold three 747-400Fs to Iceland-based Air Atlanta Icelandic in the first quarter. The carriers had reached a deal for the sale of two other 747Fs in Q4 2023. China Airlines ..read more

DHL has taken delivery of its youngest A330-300P2F conversion and will soon put it to work.   The freighter is the 2014-vintage, Trent 700-powered unit 1544 (ex-Singapore Airlines), the second of five A330-300P2Fs DHL is acquiring through a finance lease arrangement with Spain-based CaixaBank.   DHL took delivery of unit 1544 on April 18, and the finance ..read more

Maersk Air Cargo will expand its 767 freighter footprint into the United Kingdom after setting up a new AOC there.  Maersk expects to place 767 freighters on its U.K. AOC but not its new incoming 777Fs, the carrier told Cargo Facts.  Maersk Air Cargo UK applied on April 12 for a Type A operating license ..read more

Sao Paulo International Airport Chief Commercial and Cargo Officer Joao Pita will join Cargo Facts LATAM 2024 for a presentation on “New cargo developments in LatAm airport operations and connectivity” on Tuesday, May 14, at 11:30 (UTC -5).   The second annual Cargo Facts LATAM takes place May 13-15 at the Hilton Panama in Panama City, where industry leaders will gather to share their outlook on the air cargo sector in Latin America.   View the full event agenda.   As one of the main cargo hubs in South America, Sao Paulo International Airport (GRU) distributes ai ..read more

Merlin is collaborating with MIT Lincoln Laboratory to explore ways of integrating next-generation collision avoidance technology into its uncrewed flight systems.   The initial research is expected to take up to six months to get the Airborne Collision Avoidance System Xu (ACAS Xu) integrated and flying in Merlin’s simulation test environment, the company told Cargo Facts.   ..read more

Copa Airlines Senior Director of Cargo Jaime Alvarez will join Cargo Facts LATAM 2024 for the panel discussion “The future of freighters in Latin America: Supply, demand and opportunity” on Tuesday, May 14, at 09:15 (UTC -5).  The second annual Cargo Facts LATAM takes place May 13-15 at the Hilton Panama, where industry leaders will gather to share their outlook on the air cargo sector in Latin America.  View the full event agenda.  Panama-based Copa Airlines became the first operator of the 737-800BCF in Latin America after committing to two conversion slots with Boeing and beg ..read more

Nippon Cargo Airlines is evaluating the next generation of large-widebody freighters as development continues. “We’re studying them seriously,” Nippon Cargo Airlines (NCA) President and Chief Executive Hiroyuki Homma said during a panel discussion on widebody freighters at Cargo Facts Asia 2024 in Singapore last week, adding that NCA wants to keep up with the growth of ..read more

MROs continue to invest in multiple conversion lines and new facilities even as orders decline and growth is expected to return in two to three years. “We are shifting from the 737-800F platform to the A320 family conversion programs because we see that the 737 freighter market is almost saturated,” Ivan Chin, general manager of ..read more

Startup carrier Pattaya Airways has taken delivery of its first ATR 72 freighter as it prepares to receive its Thai AOC and begin commercial flights by yearend. A 2007-vintage ATR 72-500F (745, ex-Air Corsica) arrived today at U-Tapao Rayong-Pattaya International Airport (UTP). It is in bulk configuration without a large cargo door and is on ..read more