Canada's KF Cargo concludes DC-10 freighter ops

New Zealand's Air Chathams eyes B737 ops, streamlines fleet

Canada's WestJet sells seven B737-600s for part-out

WestJet (WS, Calgary) has sold seven of its retired B737-600s to Aventure Aviation for immediate part-out at Marana.

C-GPWS (msn 34284), C-GWSB (msn 34285), C-GWSI (msn 34286), C-GWSK (msn 34287), C-GBWS (msn 34288), C-GWCQ (msn 35111), and C-GWCT (msn 35112) were all deregistered from Canada on February 15, 2023. Having been scrapped, they were not inducted onto any other register.

The aircraft were retired from active service between March 2020 and February 2021 and ferried to Marana for storage in 2021. They were delivered to WestJet direct from Boeing in 2005 and 2006. The Canadian airline was their only operator.

The ch-aviation fleets ownership module shows that WestJet continues to own five more B737-600s. Three of these are in storage at Marana, while the other two have been leased out to KF Cargo for its passenger charter brand Aeroflyer. The niche variant of the B737NG remains in service with just two more operators in the world; AECOM Federal Services has six units in its fleet and...

US's Mesa adds B737-800, to start United ops in late 1Q23

Mesa Airlines (YV, Phoenix Sky Harbor) took delivery of its first B737-800(BDSF), namely N326FL (msn 28326), and plans to induct it into CMI operations for DHL Express in March 2023.

The 21.2-year-old aircraft is owned by DHL Worldwide Express and was converted at Tianjin before being ferried back to the United States (via Ciudad Acuna International to Cincinnati International) on December 22, 2022, Flightradar24 ADS-B data shows. After a period of storage, the aircraft was reactivated for a certification flight to Memphis International and back on February 13, 2023.

"We expect it to enter service in March. This brings our total cargo fleet to three B737-400(F)s and one next-gen B737-800," Chairman and Chief Executive of parent Mesa Air Group Jonathan Ornstein said during a recent investors call.

The B737-800 is Mesa Airlines' largest aircraft. Under a five-year agreement with DHL, it currently operates three B737-400(SF)s of which two are owned by the integrator, while the third is leased directly by Mesa Airlines...

Canada's Aeroflyer launches with B737-600s, eyes -700s

Aeroflyer (Kelowna) has outlined plans to launch domestic and international charter operations by the end of the month, initially using two B737-600s.

The two ex-WestJet aircraft, C-GKFP (msn 35113) and C-GKFQ (msn 35570), have already been repainted in Aeroflyer's livery and will be based out of Calgary and Kelowna, respectively. Both are configured for up to 119 passengers.

During the launch event, the carrier said it is planning to add a further two aircraft to its fleet later this year.

"The next aircraft will likely be B737-700s which would hold roughly 136 passengers," director of business development Bryan Akerstream told SkiesMag.

The airline will initially target industrial firms which fly their staff to remote locations. It is also hoping to attract charter customers among sports teams and tour operators. While the two initial aircraft will be based out of Western Canada, Aeroflyer is planning to look for opportunities nationwide. It is planning to establish another base at Hamilton, ON airport to better serve Eastern Canada....