UPS Airlines orders nine B767 freighters

FAA extends relaxed slot rules at NYC to early 4Q23

Facing a post-pandemic shortage of air traffic controllers at New York City airports, the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has agreed to allow airlines flexibility on slot usage requirements for airports in the New York City area until October 28, 2023.

In a statement, the FAA said it was working closely with the National Air Traffic Controllers Association (NATCA) to implement a long-term solution to resolve ongoing low staffing levels at the New York Terminal Radar Approach Control (N90), which remains 54% staffed.

In the meantime, the regulator expects airlines to continue operating larger aircraft to transport more passengers and ensure passengers are fully informed about any possible disruptions.

The statement followed the FAA on August 9 extending a limited waiver of slot usage requirements at Washington National, New York JFK, New York La Guardia, and Newark from September 16 to October 28, 2023. End-October coincides with the end of the International Air Transport Association (IATA) summer season when airlines have relatively higher traffic levels.

"Carriers will be permitted to voluntarily...

Japan Airlines to re-introduce B767-300 freighters

JAL - Japan Airlines (JL, Tokyo Haneda) will re-introduce B767 freighters 13 years after last flying them. In a May 2, 2023, statement, the airline said it would induct three B767-300ER(BCF)s by the end of FY2023 (i.e. March 31, 2024) and deploy them primarily around East Asia.

"With plans for further growth in the cargo and mail business, the company has decided to operate its own freighters," reads the statement.

JAL operates a 27-strong fleet of passenger-configured B767-300ERs, and says it will convert three of those. However, the airline was unable to say which aircraft it would convert. The airline is introducing A350-900s and A350-1000s to update its widebody passenger fleet. In the last 12 months, Japan Airlines has retired two B767-300ERs but both aircraft have gone to UPS Airlines (5X, Louisville International). Among the 27 aircraft in service, all but one (JA616J (msn 35813)) are owned by the airline and the fleet ranges in age from 11.44 years to 21.05 years. The carrier says that it plans...

Turkey's MNG Airlines closes in on reverse NYSE IPO

Shareholders in a Delaware blank cheque company called Golden Falcon Acquisition Corporation are being asked to approve a merger with MNG Havayollari ve Tasimacilik A.S, trading as MNG Airlines (MB, Istanbul Airport), which will facilitate a reverse IPO and the Turkish cargo carrier's listing on the NYSE.

In an April 10, 2023, Form F-4 filing with the Securities Exchange Commission (SEC), shareholders were recommended to approve the merger which will see Golden Falcon become an indirect, wholly-owned subsidiary of MNG. The airline is pursuing the NYSE listing to increase its financial flexibility, unlock new growth opportunities, and maximise value creation.

According to the filing, MNG Airlines operates six A300-600(F)s, one A330-200F, and two A330-300(P2F)s. The airline is also negotiating a LOI with an undisclosed lessor to acquire two A321 converted freighters. MNG Airlines flies over 180,000 tonnes annually, providing the majority of its scheduled and block space services and charter services to integrated operators such as DHL Air (D0, East Midlands) and UPS Airlines (5X, Louisville International),...

FedEx Express plots MD-11F phase-out

FedEx Express (FX, Memphis International) is eyeing the gradual phase-out of its MD-11F freighters, although it has yet to finalise the plan and announce a specific retirement date, FedEx President and Chief Operating Officer Raj Subramaniam said during a quarterly investor call.

"One part of this effort [to cut costs] is to reconfigure our air network. This requires many steps, including plans currently being developed to phase out our fleet of MD-11Fs... We come to a fork in the road here: are we going to see a high-demand environment or a low-demand environment? The MD-11F was that flex fleet. And as we now look at the demand environment, we don't see that high demand coming through," he explained.

The integrator's quarterly report shows it operating fifty-eight MD-11Fs as of February 28, 2023, although the ch-aviation fleets advanced module indicates that only 51 remain active, with a further 14 in storage. The average age of this subfleet is 29.6 years. While FedEx owns the majority of its MD-11Fs, the firm said two are...