Bahrain's MENA Cargo Airlines eyes more freighters

Asia Cargo Network moves into aircraft leasing

Asia Cargo Network (the ACN Group), operators of Asia Cargo Airlines, MENA Cargo Airlines, RGA-Black Stone Airlines, and World Cargo Airlines, is pushing into the aircraft leasing sector after establishing a UK-based entity called ACN AeroLeasing. The joint venture between the ACN Group and Plane Invest Limited involves opening a physical office in London, which they say will better allow it to tap into the city's financial markets and service its clientele across Europe, the Americas, Africa and the Middle East.

“Our expansion into the UK signifies a critical milestone in the execution of our long-term strategic vision. This move underscores our steadfast commitment to offering the most competitive and effective leasing solutions to our international customer base,” said ACN Group Chairman Marco Isaak. In addition to bolstering ACN's existing aviation leasing arrangements, Isaak says the joint venture will help the company develop its business initiatives and result in a better all-round product.

London-based Plane Invest is the private investment vehicle of aviation industry veteran Hal Gamble. UK company records show ACN AeroLeasing...

Asia Cargo Network plans B737-800BCFs ops as B737-300F exit

The CEO of Asia Cargo Network will start swapping out B737-300(F)s for B737-800(BCF)s according to a Cargo Facts report. Asia Cargo Network operates four airline brands - Asia Cargo Airlines, MENA Cargo Airlines, RGA-Black Stone Airlines, and World Cargo Airlines.

Group Chief Executive Marco Isaak confirmed the fleet change plans at an event in Singapore last week. “I’m extremely comfortable with the B737-800,” he said. Across its four airlines, Air Cargo Network has 12 aircraft including five B737-300Fs at Asia Cargo Airlines with an average fleet age of 27 years; one inactive 30.8-year-old B737-400(F) and two active B737-800BCFs (aged 12.72 and 22.99 years respectively) at World Cargo Airlines; one 26.6 year old B737-300F at MENA Cargo Airlines; and three B737-300Fs with an average fleet age of 25.8 years at RGA-Black Stone Airlines.

At the same event, Isaak said he expected the Middle East to drive the company's short to medium term growth. Last year, to secure a foothold in that market, Asia Cargo Network spent USD135 million to...

Asia Cargo Network eyes Sudanese JV

Indonesia's Asia Cargo Airlines to acquire two B737-800BCFs

Asia Cargo Network subsidiary Asia Cargo Airlines (GM, Jakarta Halim) is to acquire two B737-800(BCF)s for its Indonesian and Southeast Asian freighter operations. ACN CEO Marco Isaak said both aircraft will arrive in 1Q 2023, per Cargo Facts.

The airline, which was rebranded from Tri-M.G. Intra Asia Airlines (Jakarta Halim) in 2021, presently flies a fleet of five B737-300(F)s. According to the ch-aviation fleets advanced module, three are active and two are inactive and undergoing maintenance. The short to medium-range B737-300F can carry 17,000 kilograms of cargo with a volume of 81 cubic metres, whereas B737-800BCFs can carry almost 24,000 kilograms cargo with a volume of over 141 cubic metres.

Asia Cargo Network's website indicates their Indonesian subsidiary flies to over a dozen countries around Asia and five domestic airports from Jakarta Soekarno-Hatta and Jakarta Halim Airports, including Balikpapan, Makassar, Ambon, Jayapura, and Tembagapura. The boost to Asia Cargo Airlines caps off a busy few months for the Singapore-based Asia Cargo Network....