Wilmington, US-based Air Transport Services Group Inc. (ATSG) has said it may expand its fleet by acquiring three B767-300 aircraft. ATSG is the parent corporation for ABX Air whose biggest customer was DHL Express before the German express and logistics company decided to pull out of domestic operations after years of losses. ATSG President and CEO Joe Hete said he is excited about the potential fleet expansion. ATSG’s aircraft leasing business recently executed a letter of intent for the purchase of three 767-300 extended-range, passenger-configured aircraft, which will be converted to freighters and begin flying by 2011.

“Our goal is to acquire, convert to standard freighters, and begin deployment of those aircraft beginning in early 2011,” Hete said. “These 767- 300s have additional payload capacity as well as greater range than our 767-200 freighters, and will increase the customer base we can support in both the leasing and ACMI market.

“We believe marrying 767-200 and 767-300 capabilities will further differentiate ATSG in the medium wide body segment of the air cargo industry, while allowing us to leverage ATSG’s existing infrastructure.” A decision whether to proceed with the purchase will be made and announced by 1 June, Hete said.

Noting that the top four growth markets in the air freight industry are domestic China, within Asia, Europe to Asia, and Europe to Africa, ATSG COO Rich Corrado said the 767 will be the “cornerstone of our approach,” in those markets.