AerCap has signed lease agreements with Hong Kong based Fly Meta for four Boeing 777-300ERSF aircraft. In a separate announcement, AerCap celebrated the delivery of their 50th Boeing 737-800 Boeing Converted Freighter which was redelivered to GOL.
On Tuesday (January 31, 2023), AerCap Holdings N.V. announced the signing of lease agreements for four Boeing 777-300ERSF aircraft with Hong Kong based global air charter company Fly Meta. The aircraft will be delivered between 2024 and 2025. The Boeing 777-300ERSF is the first passenger-to-freight (P2F) conversion program for the Boeing 777-300ER and will be the largest twin-engine freighter when it enters service this year. AerCap Cargo and Israel Aerospace Industries Group (IAI) launched the conversion program, known as ‘The Big Twin’ in 2019. To date, AerCap Cargo has a firm order book of 20 Boeing 777-300ERSF aircraft, along with 10 options. The first converted aircraft is scheduled to be delivered to U.S. cargo airline Kalitta Air during the first half of 2023.
In Tuesday’s announcement, AerCap Cargo’s Head, Rich Greener, said,
“AerCap is delighted to welcome Fly Meta as a new customer to the 777-300ERSF 'The Big Twin' freighter conversion program. With 25% more capacity than today's smaller twin-engine long-haul freighters, the Big Twin offers significant cost efficiencies, superior range, and outstanding operational commonality, and is therefore the ideal aircraft to support Fly Meta's growing widebody freighter fleet.”
Also commenting on the lease agreements, Fly Meta’s CEO, Helen Chen, added,
“We are thrilled to sign these lease agreements with AerCap for four Boeing 777-300ERSF freighter aircraft. We are confident that the situation will change for the better as China lifts its Covid restrictions, and that the cargo market will grow steadily over the coming years. We believe that the volume capabilities and greater cost efficiencies of the 777-300ERSF will give us a competitive advantage in the market.”
Established in 2022 by a team of aviation industry professionals, Fly Meta provides packaged ACMI products through market integration of its resources, making the best use of its worldwide network and connections, supporting clients with a ‘one-stop-shop’ service.
In a separate press release today (January 31, 2023), AerCap celebrated the delivery of their 50th Boeing 737 BCF (Boeing Converted Freighter), which has been redelivered to GOL Linhas Aéreas. The aircraft conversion was completed at COOPESA, a leading MRO provider with expertise in aircraft modifications and conversions. GOL will operate their new freighter on behalf of a Latin American e-commerce company, as part of the growth strategy for GOLLOG, their logistics business unit. AerCap was the launch customer for the Boeing 737-800BCF, taking their first delivery in April 2018.
Speaking on the 737-800BCF delivery to GOL, AerCap Cargo’s Head, Rich Greener, said, “We are delighted to celebrate this milestone delivery with our partners at Boeing and our longstanding customer, GOL. Since the program launched in 2016, we have seen unprecedented demand for express air cargo from e-commerce retail businesses. Today, the 737-800BCF is one of the most in-demand narrowbody freighter aircraft in the industry, thanks to its versatility and reliability, making it the perfect choice for express air cargo and e-commerce networks.”
Also commenting on the on AerCap’s milestone 737-800BCF delivery, Boeing's Vice President, Commercial Modifications, Engineering & Specialty Products Business, Kate Schaefer, added,
“We thank AerCap Cargo for their early confidence in the 737-800BCF, and congratulate them on this milestone. The BCF team has navigated global challenges during the past few years and truly pulled together to deliver this 50th 737-800BCF for AerCap. It is a testament to the ongoing commitment to our customers' success.”
With over 25 years’ experience in freighter leasing, including P2F conversions, AerCap Cargo has taken delivery of over 100 successful conversion. The company’s 737-800BCF customers include West Atlantic Group, Amazon Air, GOL, JD.com, Kargo Xpress, ASL and Longhao Airlines.
Founded in 2001, GOL Linhas Aéreas Inteligentes S.A. (NYSE: GOL) is Brazil’s largest airline and a leader in the business and leisure segments, carrying over 33 million guests annually. Currently, the airline offers 750 daily flights to more than 100 destinations in Brazil, South America, the Caribbean and the U.S. GOL maintains alliances with American Airlines and Air France-KLM, as well as 14 codeshare partnerships and 77+ interline agreements. The carrier operates an award winning loyalty program called ‘Smiles’, as well as GOLLOG, which delivers parcels across various regions in Brazil and abroad in partnership with Mercado Livre. GOL has over 14,000 team members and operates a standardized fleet of 125 Boeing 737s.
AerCap Holdings N.V. (NYSE: AER) is the global leader in aircraft leasing and maintains one of the most attractive order books in the industry. The company serves around 300 customers in 80 countries with comprehensive fleet solutions. AerCap is headquartered in Dublin and maintains offices in Shannon, Miami, Memphis, Singapore, Amsterdam, Shanghai, Abu Dhabi, Seattle and Toulouse, and other locations around the world.
Source(s): AerCap, GOL