18 May 2020

North America Newsletter 18 May

AEI To Provide Aviation Holdings III With Up To 3 B737-800SF Freighters Aeronautical Engineers, Inc. (AEI) announced the company has entered an agreement to provide Aviation Holdings III, L.P. with up to three (3) Boeing 737-800SF freighter conversions. The first aircraft (MSN 29916) will commence modification in June 2020 and will be performed by China-based STAECO, an authorized AEI Conversion Center. This will be the first AEI B737-800SF modified by STAECO. American Airlines Continues its Pioneering History with Expanded Cargo Operations American Airlines has expanded its cargo schedule in May to provide 140 weekly flights to 15 cities in Asia Pacific, Europe and the Caribbean, up from 80 flights last week. New destinations include daily flights between Dallas-Fort Worth (DFW) and Hong Kong (HKG); and weekly flights from DFW and Beijing (PEK); DFW Chicago (ORD) and Paris (CDG); ORD and London Heathrow (LHR); Philadelphia (PHL) and Rome (FCO); PHL and San Juan (SJU), and PHL and Zurich (ZRH). Rick Elieson, President of Cargo and Vice President of International Operations. “Air cargo is uniquely positioned to connect the world at a time when barriers and distance threaten to separate us. I’m immensely proud of our teams and business partners who have come together to make these flights possible.” BOC Aviation Signs Purchase-And-Leaseback Agreement With Southwest Airlines For 10 Boeing 737 Max 8 Aircraft BOC Aviation announced that it has signed a purchase-and-leaseback agreement with Southwest Airlines for 10 Boeing 737 MAX 8 aircraft. All 10 aircraft are powered by CFM LEAP-1B engines. Robert Martin, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, BOC Aviation, said “We are delighted to be working with Southwest Airlines once again, building on a long-term relationship that dates back to 2008. This is the sixth major aircraft investment that we have announced this year, which reflects our Company’s ability to provide innovative financing solutions for large-volume transactions and our commitment as a global partner to our airline customers.” Cessna SkyCourier Completes First Flight The Cessna SkyCourier twin-turboprop prototype lifted off on its first yesterday from Beech Field at Textron Aviation’s east campus in Wichita. Piloted by senior test pilot Corey Eckhart and chief test pilot Aaron Tobias, the utility twin flew for two hours and 15 minutes. “We were very pleased with how the Cessna SkyCourier performed throughout its first flight,” Eckhart said. “It was particularly impressive to see how stable the aircraft handled on takeoff and landing. The Cessna SkyCourier already displays a high level of maturity in its flight characteristics, especially for a first flight. We were able to accomplish everything we wanted on this flight, and that’s an excellent start to the flight test program.” Delta’s 777 aircraft to retire by end of 2020, simplifying widebody fleet amid COVID-19 Delta Air Lines will retire its 18 Boeing 777s by the end of the year as it accelerates a plan to simplify and modernize its fleet as part of wider Covid-19-related changes to its business strategy. Delta COO Gil West said “We’re making strategic, cost-effective changes to our fleet to respond to the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic while also ensuring Delta is well-positioned for the recovery on the backside of the crisis. The 777 has been a reliable part of Delta’s success since it joined the fleet in 1999 and because of its unique operating characteristics, opened new non-stop, ultra-long-haul markets that only it could fly at that time.” Delta said it will continue flying its fleet of Airbus A350-900s, which it estimates burns 21 percent less fuel per seat than the 777s they will replace. De Havilland Canada Launches Simplified Package Freighter Conversions for Dash 8-100/200 and Dash 8-300 Aircraft De Havilland Canada announced that Transport Canada has approved the conversion of Dash 8-100/200 and Dash 8-300 aircraft into Simplified Package Freighters in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. 748 Air Services (K) Ltd, a well-known provider of passenger and cargo services to humanitarian, natural resources and government sectors in Africa, has ordered the Service Bulletin and conversion kits for their four Dash 8-100 aircraft and globally, will be the first operator for the Dash 8-100 Simplified Package Freighter. Acumen Aviation © 18 May 2020 All Rights Reserved.