All Nippon Airways (ANA) has applied for Japanese government’s permission to wet-lease two Boeing 767-200SF freighter aircraft, on ACMI contracts, from US-based ABX Air.

The aircraft, each with a payload of 40 tonnes, will be used on China routes and short-haul routes to other parts of Asia, the Japanese carrier said in a statement.

In line with its "Mid-Term Corporate Plan 2006-2009," ANA intends to grow cargo operations into the third pillar of its business ¨C along with domestic and international passenger transport ¨C ready for the expansion of runway capacity at Tokyo’s Haneda Airport in 2009, the statement added.

ANA also exercised options for two additional 767-300 Boeing Converted Freighters. ANA launched the 767-300 BCF passenger-to-freighter conversion program in October 2005 with an order for three conversions and four options.

ANA plans to use the converted freighters as part of its joint venture cargo operation called ANA & JP Express, with partners Japan Post, Nippon Express, and Mitsui OSK Lines.