Freight ASL orders up to 20 additional 737-800 BCF

Dublin-headquartered ASL Aviation Holdings (ASL) has agreed on a purchase deal with manufacturer Boeing to expand its aircraft portfolio. The companies have signed for 10 firm Boeing 737-800 Boeing Converted Freighters (BCF) with purchase right for 10 additional aircraft.

This latest order represents the second for ASL with Boeing for the 737-800 BCF. If all options are exercised, ASL will operate with 40 of these aircraft in its fleet. According to Boeing, the aircraft will be converted at approved MRO sites like STAECO in Jinan, China and at the newly opened MRO facility at London Gatwick.

Dave Andrew, Chief Executive, ASL Aviation Holdings, said: “This new order is an important element of our fleet renewal programme, and we are delighted to expand our partnership with Boeing on the 737-800BCF […] The 737-800BCF offers increased reliability and performance, and equally its lower fuel burn reduces our environmental footprint. This is very important to ASL as an aviation group committed to environmental sustainability in aviation.”

Jens Steinhagen, director of Boeing Converted Freighters, added: “We are honored to play a crucial role in the fleet renewal underway across ASL Aviation Holdings' operation […] Boeing Converted Freighters support progress towards sustainability goals by providing operators like those under the ASL Group umbrella an economical way to replace less efficient, older-generation freighters.”

Currently, the previous-generation of the 737 is mainly used for cargo operations, like the 737-400F in particular. The newer 737-800 BCF carries more payload – up to 23.9 tonnes (52,800 lbs.) – and flies farther – 2,025 nautical miles (3,750 km) than the older converted freighter.

By enabling aircraft to be in service even after passenger operations, aircraft manufacturers and conversion experts keep living-cycles of aircraft high. More and more manufacturers offer conversions, Embraer was the latest to announce a freighter version of its passenger aircraft.

ASL is a global aviation services company that has airlines based on three continents: Europe, Africa and Asia. The company is a leading ACMI operator and includes six airlines: ASL Airlines Ireland, ASL Airlines Belgium, ASL Airlines France and ASL Airlines United Kingdom in Europe. Additionally, ASL has joint venture airlines in FlySafair and K-Mile.