Bluebird Nordic (Reykjavik Keflavik) has unveiled plans to dramatically scale up its fleet to include twenty-five B737-800 freighters by the end of 2024.

The Icelandic cargo specialist's fleet currently consists of one B737-300(F), one B737-400(F), and six B737-400(SF)s (of which one is operated for ASL Airlines Belgium (3V, Liège)).

Chief executive and managing director Siggi Agustsson said the first B737-800 will be delivered by Avia Solutions Group sister company AviaAM Leasing in September 2021, followed by a second in October 2021. An ASG spokeswoman has since confirmed to ch-aviation the first jet is B737-800(BCF) LY-FBA (msn 29788), which recently completed conversion at Taikoo (Shandong) Aircraft Engineering Company Limited (STAECO) facility in Jinan, while the second is an ex-Turkish Airlines jet, msn 29786, which is undergoing P2F conversion in Guangzhou with GAMECO, Guangzhou Aircraft Maintenance Engineering.

"The arrival of 25 new B737-800s to our fleet will firmly position Bluebird Nordic at the forefront of the cargo charter market and comes as part of our existing and comprehensive expansion plan," he said. "With the growth in demand for cargo transport we are proactively responding to our customers' increased freighter needs, and this ensures that we are ready and able to meet all of their global cargo demands. Additionally, following this major expansion, Bluebird Nordic plans to develop back-offices in Lithuania and Bulgaria."

In the interim, while Bluebird Nordic awaits its P2F conversion and delivery, the aircraft will be utilised by another Avia Solutions Group sister carrier, ACMI/charter specialist Avion Express (X9, Vilnius), for passenger flights during the busy summer season.