ATSG swoops for 20 B767 passenger aircraft as feedstock for freighter conversion
20 / 12 / 2018
US-based freighter operator Air Transport Services Group (ATSG) is to acquire 20 Boeing 767-300 extended-range passenger aircraft from lessor Jetran as potential feedstock for freighter conversion over the next three years.
ATSG, which operates B767Fs for Amazon Air, currently expects to begin freighter modification of six of the twenty 767-300s during 2019, up to nine during 2020, and no fewer than five in 2021.
ATSG said that it may choose to refurbish and lease one or more of them internally as passenger aircraft to its recently acquired subsidiary, Omni Air International, for charter or ACMI service with Omni Air’s government and commercial customers.
The Jetran aircraft are currently operated by American Airlines. They were manufactured between 1993 and 2003, and are powered by General Electric CF6-series engines.
Added ATSG: “On that anticipated schedule, and apart from any other transactions involving 767-300s, ATSG projects that it would own at least fifty-nine 767-300 freighter aircraft by the end of 2021, compared with thirty-nine at the end of 2018.”
ATSG also owns six other passenger 767-300s, all currently operated by Omni Air International, and owns other Boeing 737, B757, B767 and B777 aircraft.
Joe Hete, president and chief executive of ATSG, said: “As the world’s leading source of mid-sized converted 767 freighters, we have the appetite and financial strength to respond when a large fleet of commonly configured, high quality feedstock aircraft becomes available.
“Our discussions with a number of customers about leasing multiple 767-300s from us for deployment in new and expanding networks give us confidence that the market will remain strong.
"Contracting to acquire these aircraft at good value, along with our unique abilities to convert, lease, operate and maintain them for our customers, is proof of our commitment to serve that market growth for several more years to come.”
Cargo Aircraft Management, ATSG’s aircraft leasing subsidiary, will purchase, manage freighter conversion, and lease the 20 aircraft.
