Airlines

New Hong Kong firm Fly Meta to take converted 777-300ER freighters

Fly Meta, a Hong Kong-based international air cargo charter firm, and AerCap Holdings N.V. announced they had inked lease agreements for four Boeing 777-300ERSF aircraft. In 2024 to 2025, the planes are expected to be delivered.

The Boeing 777-300ERSF, also known as ‘The Big Twin’, is the first passenger-to-freighter aircraft conversion program of the Boeing 777-300ER and will be the largest twin-engine freighter when it enters service this year.

Boeing Delivers on 100th 737-800 BCF Order to AerCap(Opens in a new browser tab)

AerCap is delighted to welcome Fly Meta as a new customer to the 777-300ERSF ‘The Big Twin’ freighter conversion program,” said Rich Greener, the Head of AerCap Cargo. “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.”

“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.” said Helen Chen, the CEO of Fly Meta.

SWISS extends Premium Economy Class to its Airbus A340 fleet(Opens in a new browser tab)

AerCap Cargo and Israel Aerospace Industries Group (IAI) launched the 777-300ERSF conversion program in 2019, known as ‘The Big Twin’. Today, AerCap Cargo has a firm order book of 20 Boeing 777-300ERSF aircraft and a further ten options. The first aircraft is expected to deliver in the first half of 2023 to US cargo airline, Kalitta Air.

Airlines

Sanctions & Engine Issues Ground Half of Russia’s A320neo fleet

Russia’s aviation sector, already strained by Western sanctions, faces another setback as nearly half of its Airbus A320neo family aircraft are grounded due to unresolved engine issues.

This development highlights the growing challenges for russia commercial aircraft in maintaining their fleets under the weight of global restrictions and limited access to spare parts.

Out of the 66 Airbus A320neo and A321neo jets in Russia, 34 are now out of service, according to the Kommersant business newspaper. These planes are powered by engines manufactured by Pratt & Whitney, a subsidiary of RTX Corporation.

DAMAC Air: Dubai’s New Luxury Airline Offers Free Flights for Registration

The engines are affected by a previously identified defect in the metal used for certain parts, prompting accelerated inspections and maintenance.

Sanctions have compounded the issue, blocking the supply of essential components from major manufacturers like Boeing and Airbus. Without proper maintenance, experts warn that these aircraft may face decommissioning as early as 2026.

COMAC Unveils Plans for the C929 to Rival Airbus and Boeing

Airlines like S7, which operates a significant portion of these grounded jets, plan to conserve the engines for future use during peak travel seasons. However, reports suggest that over 20 of S7’s Airbus planes have engines that have already reached the end of their operational lifespan. Recently, russia seeks assistance from kazakhstan’s airlines to bolster its domestic flights.

While some A320neo and A321neo planes in Russia are equipped with French-made LEAP engines, which are seen as less problematic, the challenges remain daunting.

The situation underscores the long-term impact of sanctions on Russia’s aviation sector and the increasing difficulties in keeping its modern fleets operational.