Tag Archives: 737-800F

YTO Airlines to acquire Boeing-converted 737-800 freighters

YTO AIrlines (YTO Express) (Hangzhou) is a new Chinese airline proposing to add Boeing-converted 737-800 freighters. The new airline is planning to finalize an order for 15 Boeing 737-800BCFs.

The new airline commenced cargo operations on September 26, 2015 from Hangzhou to Chengdu with a Boeing 737-300F freighter (737-36Q (SF) B-2505, msn 28657) leased from Donghai Airlines.

Boeing has issued this statement:

Boeing is extremely pleased to enter into an agreement with YTO Airlines to provide the airline with 737-800 Boeing Converted Freighters (BCFs) pending a planned program launch.

“We are honored that YTO Airlines has chosen to partner with Boeing as it expands its operations and freighter fleet,” said Rick Anderson, vice president of sales, Commercial Aviation Services. “We are confident the 737-800BCF—with its more advanced avionics, better fuel efficiency and lower operating costs—will provide the airline with a competitive advantage in the marketplace.”

Image Above: Boeing.

The 737-800 will be the first Next-Generation 737 that Boeing offers for conversion. Through its 737 freighter conversion program, Boeing will support customers in the narrow-body freighter market, a segment of the freighter market growing quickly around the world.

YTO Airlines is a Hangzhou-based Chinese express cargo carrier backed by Shanghai YTO Express Investment (Group) Co., Ltd. The carrier currently operates a fleet of Boeing 737-300F airplanes, providing domestic and international air cargo services.

Air Transat starts seasonal Halifax – London Gatwick flights

Air Transat (Montreal) on June 17 launched its twice-weekly summer seasonal service between Halifax and London (Gatwick) with Boeing 737 aircraft.

The return westbound routing stops at Gander per Airline Route.

Copyright Photo: Gilbert Hechema/AirlinersGallery.com. Boeing 737-8Q8 C-GTQB (msn 30696) with APB Split Scimitar Winglets completes its approach to the runway at Montreal (Trudeau).

Air Transat aircraft slide show:

Norwegian to fly from Boston, Baltimore/Washington and New York to Guadeloupe and Martinique this winter

Norwegian Air Shuttle (Norwegian.com) (Oslo) continues its expansion, this time from an un expected area for next winter.

During the upcoming winter season Norwegian will fly from Boston, Baltimore/Washington and New York (JFK) to the Caribbean islands of Guadeloupe and Martinique. Norwegian will offer 31 nonstop routes from the US.

Norwegian already offer nonstop flights from the Scandinavian capitals and London (Gatwick) to the Caribbean.

Norwegian will operate its Boeing 737-800 aircraft on the routes. According to the airline, “Norwegian thereby becomes the only airline that offers free WiFi between the US and the Caribbean”.

According to the airline; “Norwegian pilots and cabin staff in Europe will now have the opportunity to work on the company’s temporary bases in Guadeloupe and Martinique in the winter months. Recruitment of pilots and cabin crew to bases in the Caribbean begin immediately. Captains, first officers and cabin crew from Norwegian’s European operations (the Nordic countries, the UK and Spain) with the ability to break abroad for four months are encouraged to apply.”

Norwegian’s new routes between the US and the Caribbean starts in early December, with three flights a week from New York (JFK) to both Guadeloupe Pointe-a-Pitre Airport (PTP) and Martinique Aimé Césaire International Airport (FDF).

Norwegian will fly twice a week from both the Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport (BWI) and Boston Logan International Airport (BOS) to Guadeloupe and Martinique.

Martinique and Guadeloupe are both part of France. Both islands are French territory and therefore is considered part of the EU.

Copyright Photo: Paul Bannwarth/AirlinersGallery.com. Boeing 737-8JP LN-DYF (msn 39004) of Norwegian arrives on the island of Las Palmas in the Canary Islands.

Norwegian aircraft slide show:

GECAS to convert up to 20 Boeing 737-800 passenger aircraft to freighters

GE Capital Aviation Services (GECAS), the aviation leasing and financing arm of GE, today (June 19) announced the launch of its 737-800NG passenger-to-freighter conversion program.

GECAS plans to convert up to 20 of its Boeing 737-800NG passenger aircraft to freighters (above).

AEI Aeronautical Engineers, Inc. will perform the conversions at its facilities in the U.S. and China. The first aircraft is scheduled for conversion starting in 2016 in order to earn FAA supplemental type certification (STC) in 2017 and subsequently enter service as a leased freighter.

Formed in 2000, GECAS’ Cargo Aircraft Group currently leases nearly 100 freighters to airline customers worldwide. Its fleet includes the 737, 767, 747 and 777 freighter models. In 2001, GECAS announced plans to convert Boeing 737-300 and -400 aircraft from its portfolio to freighter aircraft. In 2002, the passenger-to-freighter program expanded to include Boeing 767-200 models. In 2005, GECAS began converting Boeing 747-400s to freighters. In total, GECAS has leased over 60 converted freighters to air cargo carriers worldwide to help them expand or modernize their fleets.