Thomas Cook Airlines UK to retire B757s in 1Q19

Denmark's Sunclass Airlines to retire A330-200 by 2Q24

Sunclass Airlines (DK, Copenhagen Kastrup) has appointed Skytech-AIC to market its only A330-200 as it expects to retire the aircraft by April 2024. The jet will be sold without Rolls-Royce Trent 700 engines.

The ch-aviation fleets advanced module shows OY-VKF (msn 309) to be the only aircraft owned by the Danish leisure specialist. It was delivered in 1999 to Sunclass Airlines' predecessor, MyTravel Airways. It was then operated by subsequent iterations of the carrier - Premiair (Denmark), Thomas Cook Airlines Scandinavia, and then Sunclass. The aircraft is used mostly for short-haul routes during the current summer season and for medium- and long-haul services during the winter season.

Sunclass Airlines is in the midst of a fleet rollover to A330-900s. It operates two of these new-generation widebodies, although one has been parked for maintenance at Naples Capodichino since April 2023. The airline's spokesperson told ch-aviation the A330-200 will be replaced with a -900, but they were not able to provide more details at this time.

Malaysia's Raya Airways inducts its first A321-200(P2F)

ASL Aviation Holdings, SmartLynx to add A321 freighters

ASL Aviation Holdings has signed a commitment with Cargo Aircraft Management to lease three A321-200(PCF)s, with the first two due for delivery in 2022 and the third one in 2023, the lessor's parent Air Transport Services Group said in its quarterly earnings report.

"We are pleased to count ASL Aviation Holdings, a major source of cargo lift to integrated global networks, among our future lessees of Airbus cargo aircraft. ASL has ordered the first two of our A321 freighters in the second half of this year, a third in 2023," President and Chief Executive of ATSG Rich Corrado said.

The Irish holding will become the launch customer for Cargo Aircraft Management's A321-200(PCF)s, taking N982CM (msn 1972) and N983CM (msn 1887). The ch-aviation fleets advanced module shows that the former is already in conversion at Tampa International, while the latter remains at Goodyear. The ex-Thomas Cook Airlines UK (Manchester International) aircraft were originally earmarked for Malaysia's Raya Airways (TH, Kuala Lumpur Subang), but Cargo...

Malaysia's Raya Airways to add first A321-200(PCF)s

Raya Airways (TH, Kuala Lumpur Subang) is planning to add at least three A321-200(PCF) converted freighters, with the first two due for delivery in 2022, lessor Air Transport Services Group told Cargo Facts.

The first of the trio will be N982CM (msn 1972), an 18.9-year-old aircraft formerly operated by Thomas Cook Airlines UK. It has already been inducted into conversion by PEMCO at Tampa International. The aircraft is owned by ATSG's in-house lessor arm, Cargo Aircraft Management. The second aircraft, expected to convert later this year, will be N983CM (msn 1887).

Raya Airways currently operates one B737-400(SF), one B767-200(BDSF), and two B767-200(SF)s. All three B767s are on lease from Cargo Aircraft Management, while the B737 is owned by Vallair, the ch-aviation fleets ownership module shows. The Malaysian cargo specialist retired its last B757-200(PCF) last year, but announced growth plans in early 2022.

The lessor said it saw potential for more A321s placements with Raya Airways.

The carrier did not respond...