Airbus’ new A330-200 Freighter took to the skies Thursday during a four hour maiden flight over Toulouse. This milestone marks the start of a 180 hour flight-test and certification campaign, and paves the way for first delivery of the type to launch operator, Etihad Crystal Cargo, in the summer of 2010, Airbus said. India’s Flyington Freighters start-upwas to originally have been the launch customer but exchanged slots due to the global recession. The aircraft has already … [Read more...] about Airbus’ A330-200 Freighter makes maiden flight
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TNT puts own freighter on HK, Europe route
Express operator TNT is enhancing its service capacity between China and Europe with the addition of a new dedicated B747-400ER freighter. Non-stop flights will operate between Hong Kong and TNT's European air hub in Belgium. This will allow faster transit times, control and visibility over shipments moving between Asia and Europe, while optimising its costs and fleet utilisation, TNT said. TNT says that with its geographical and economic proximity to the Pearl River Delta and its central … [Read more...] about TNT puts own freighter on HK, Europe route
Lufthansa threatens to dump freighter fleet
Lufthansa has threatened to close its fleet of freighter aircraft if restrictions on night flights are imposed on its hub at Frankfurt. Carsten Spohr, the CEO of Lufthansa Cargo was quoted by Reuter's last week as saying that it might no longer pay to have its own cargo fleet. “Everything that goes toward a single-digit number (of flights allowed per night) would mean that it no longer pays off to have our own cargo fleet," he said according to the report. His comments come after a recent … [Read more...] about Lufthansa threatens to dump freighter fleet
Lufthansa hikes rates, talks global fleet grounding
Lufthansa Cargo has announced a sharp hike in its freight rates as it continues to talk up the possibility of grounding freighters, this time not because of night restrictions, but the poor economic climate. In a letter to its customers at the end of August, Lufthansa Cargo said it is intending to unilaterally increase rates worldwide by 25 per cent. In the letter executive board member Andreas Otto writes: “In order to meet the current market challenges, we will gradually raise our rates … [Read more...] about Lufthansa hikes rates, talks global fleet grounding
First Boeing 747-8 freighter takes shape
Boeings' much anticipated re-vamped B747 freighter took a major step closer this week toward final assembly as mechanics at its Everett, Washington facility loaded the forward and aft fuselage sections to join with the wing and centre section of the freighter, RC501. “It is exciting to see this airplane taking shape,†said Mo Yahyavi, vice president and general manager of the 747 Program. “The 747-8 is the largest commercial jet airplane we have assembled. This final body join … [Read more...] about First Boeing 747-8 freighter takes shape
CentrAfrique Air Express B737 freighter crashes
News services are reporting that a Boeing 737 cargo aircraft has crashed and burned early this morning near Kinshasa, the capital of the Democratic Republic of Congo. Reports indicate the twin-jet, possibly belonging to CentrAfrique Air Express, took off from Brazzaville in the Congo and was headed for an interim stop in Nairobi en route to Harare, Zimbabwe. The flight originated in the Central African Republic city of Bangui. … [Read more...] about CentrAfrique Air Express B737 freighter crashes
