CAL Cargo Air Lines (Tel Aviv Ben Gurion) plans to upgrade its existing B747-200(F) cargo fleet with the lease and acquisition of two B747-400(F)s are at an advanced stage. Industry publication Cargo Facts reports the leased -400F is likely ex-Singapore Airlines (SQ, Singapore Changi) msn 26553 while the purchased B747-400ERF appears to be ex-Jade Cargo International (Shenzhen) msn 35172. Both of these freighters are currently in storage at Victorville.

“We expect the [-ERF] freighter to be ready for service in November, giving CAL a competitive advantage by transporting cargo to the greatest possible distances around the globe,” said Offer Gilboa, owner and chairman of The CAL Group. “We clearly defined a corporate strategy designed to strengthen our company and enable growth, and this new aircraft is central to achieving our goals”.

The upgraded fleet will expand the Israeli carrier’s specialization in the haulage of irregular freight such as oversize and overweight goods, dangerous goods, and live animals.