Jetrader - Summer 2017 - 21

Aircraft Solutions and ST Aerospace.
Although the three major integrators,
DHL, FedEx and UPS operate the aircraft
in their networks, smaller airlines struggle
with the greater complexity and higher
engine overhaul costs. As a result, more
than 80 percent of the fleet is operated
by the integrators with most other fleets
at less than five aircraft. DHL is currently
renewing its 757 fleet, but when that is
completed, the primary market for converted aircraft will be in China. Conversions
will begin to taper off in the next 2-3 years
with no equivalent replacement available.
Operators with a 757 size requirement will
most likely down gauge to the A321-200SF
or 737-800SF.

Airbus eventually decided to support an
A330-200/300 conversion and provided
engineering data to ST Aerospace/EFW
for program development. The company
received a launch order for a single -200SF
from Egypt Air and more recently an order
from DHL for four -300SFs. The DHL order
provides momentum and stability for the
program, and as suitably priced feedstock
with the proper weight configuration
become available, the program should
flourish. The aircraft is a natural replacement for the A300B4 and A300-600 and

will compete very effectively against
the 767-300ERSF.

777
With 18 airlines operating a combined
fleet of 139 aircraft and 38 orders/options,
the 777F can already be considered a highly
successful freighter program. The combination of range and payload allowed operators to replace or add markets served with
MD11s and 747s.
Continued on page 50

Widebody Freighters
767-300ER

The 767-300ER freighter conversion program launched almost 10 years ago with a
Boeing order from ANA and high expectations
for a successful program. Unfortunately, the
program encountered strong headwinds with
the delayed introduction of the 787 and,
subsequently, the global recession. In addition, the aircraft continued to be popular
with passenger carriers and, as a result,
feedstock values remained too high to produce an economically competitive freighter.
FedEx, which needed additional capacity in
this size category, eventually opted for the
767 production freighter. Due to these factors, only 24 units were converted through
the end of 2015.
With the eventual drop in feedstock values and Amazon's recent requirement for
40 aircraft, the 767 conversion programs
have rebounded and, with 250 or so good
feedstock aircraft remaining, is likely to
continue for the next 5-7 years. The production aircraft is also on solid ground
with nine firm and 59 options stretching
to 2022.

A330
The principal competition for the 767300ERSF will come from the A330-300SF.
Initially, Airbus offered the A330-200 production freighter. This shorter fuselage
version of the -300 never achieved broad
market acceptance due to the high capital
cost and limited payload. Only 46 aircraft
are now in service with firm backlog of
four aircraft.
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Jetrader - Summer 2017

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