Merlin is collaborating with MIT Lincoln Laboratory to explore ways of integrating next-generation collision avoidance technology into its uncrewed flight systems.   The initial research is expected to take up to six months to get the Airborne Collision Avoidance System Xu (ACAS Xu) integrated and flying in Merlin’s simulation test environment, the company told Cargo Facts.   ..read more

Copa Airlines Senior Director of Cargo Jaime Alvarez will join Cargo Facts LATAM 2024 for the panel discussion “The future of freighters in Latin America: Supply, demand and opportunity” on Tuesday, May 14, at 09:15 (UTC -5).  The second annual Cargo Facts LATAM takes place May 13-15 at the Hilton Panama, where industry leaders will gather to share their outlook on the air cargo sector in Latin America.  View the full event agenda.  Panama-based Copa Airlines became the first operator of the 737-800BCF in Latin America after committing to two conversion slots with Boeing and beg ..read more

Nippon Cargo Airlines is evaluating the next generation of large-widebody freighters as development continues. “We’re studying them seriously,” Nippon Cargo Airlines (NCA) President and Chief Executive Hiroyuki Homma said during a panel discussion on widebody freighters at Cargo Facts Asia 2024 in Singapore last week, adding that NCA wants to keep up with the growth of ..read more

MROs continue to invest in multiple conversion lines and new facilities even as orders decline and growth is expected to return in two to three years. “We are shifting from the 737-800F platform to the A320 family conversion programs because we see that the 737 freighter market is almost saturated,” Ivan Chin, general manager of ..read more

Startup carrier Pattaya Airways has taken delivery of its first ATR 72 freighter as it prepares to receive its Thai AOC and begin commercial flights by yearend. A 2007-vintage ATR 72-500F (745, ex-Air Corsica) arrived today at U-Tapao Rayong-Pattaya International Airport (UTP). It is in bulk configuration without a large cargo door and is on ..read more

The future growth of IndiGo’s freighter fleet will hinge on the potential entry of the airline into the passenger widebody segment. “I think the big question there will be what IndiGo as an airline does with its passenger fleet,” IndiGo Cargo Chief Commercial Officer Mark Sutch said during the opening panel at Cargo Facts Asia ..read more

Singapore Airlines plans to slowly integrate its first production A350Fs into its fleet as it phases out its 747-400Fs. Singapore will have a mixed fleet for the first time as it coordinates the delivery of seven A350Fs it ordered from Airbus, Marvin Tan, senior vice president of cargo at Singapore Airlines, said during a fireside ..read more

CMA CGM is the unidentified customer behind orders for four A350Fs and three 777Fs. The four A350Fs are in addition to four others ordered at the end of 2021 and the three 777Fs are in addition to the two it ordered in 2021, CMA CGM confirmed to Cargo Facts. The first two of the 777Fs ..read more

Yamato Transport took delivery of its third and final A321-200P2F today after placing its first aircraft into service last week. The 2010-vintage aircraft (4530, ex-Qatar Airways), which departed the ST Engineering facility in Singapore (XSP) this evening, fully painted in Yamato livery, is the third Airbus narrowbody freighter the Japan-based logistics company leased from Fuyo ..read more

LATAM Cargo Chief Executive Andres Bianchi will join Cargo Facts LATAM 2024 for the panel discussion “The future of freighters in Latin America: Supply, demand and opportunity” on Tuesday, May 14, at 09:15 (UTC -5). The second annual Cargo Facts LATAM takes place May 13-15 at the Hilton Panama, where industry leaders will gather to share their outlook on the air cargo sector in Latin America. View the full event agenda. LATAM Cargo operates the largest widebody freighter fleet in Latin America and expects to take redelivery of its final two 767-300BCFs this year , completing its ten-unit conve ..read more