DHL Air Introduces Its 1st Boeing 767-300 Freighter
DHL Air Austria receives its first Boeing 767-300 for dedicated freighter use. Austrian-based DHL Air has successfully introduced its first Boeing 767-300ER freighter aircraft, a 767 freighter jet. The aircraft was delivered at Leipzig/Halle Airport (LEJ) on October 16 and operated its first revenue flight. Despite being succeeded by the Boeing 777-F, the aircraft is still a popular option for air cargo operators worldwide. DHL Austria is one of six airlines owned by Deutsche Post DHL to support its global parcel delivery network and is also part of the DHL Aviation group. In April 2023, DHL asked the United States Department of Transportation for a license to operate scheduled and ad hoc charter operations to the US, which includes a two-year exemption from a foreign carrier permit.
Published : 2 years ago by Joshua Kupietzky in Travel
Austrian-based DHL Air, on October 16, operated its first revenue flight of its first Boeing 767-300ER freighter aircraft, which arrived at the airline’s hub at Leipzig/Halle Airport (LEJ). The milestone delivery marked the first 767 freighter aircraft for the Austrian regional cargo carrier, which operated an all-Boeing 757-200 freighter fleet.
The Boeing 767-300F has been a very popular option for air cargo operators. Despite being succeeded by the Boeing 777-F, the aircraft is still efficiently used by many carriers worldwide for cargo operations. According to Boeing, it is the most efficient aircraft in its class, resulting in it being the medium widebody freighter with the lowest (per trip) operating costs.
Its excellent fuel efficiency and operational flexibility of the 767-300F enable DHL Austria to cater to the growing cargo capacity requirement in Europe. The aircraft is capable of flying 3,255 nautical miles (6,028 km), carrying a maximum revenue payload of over 52 tonnes. This makes the 767 freighter the perfect aircraft type for DHL Austria, whose aim is to grow its presence in Europe and begin service to the United States. Currently, DHL Air Austria deploys the 767-300 jet on daily flights between Leipzig and Bologna Guglielmo Marconi Airport (BLQ), delivering freight and packages.
The 23.5-year-old aircraft began flying commercial flights on May 21, 2000, with Air Europa registered EC-HKS. Then, in May 2007, it was re-registered in the United Kingdom as G-UKZM as it began flying with low-cost transatlantic carrier Zoom Airlines. When Zoom Airlines ceased operations in August 2008, the plane transferred to Royal Air Maroc in February 2009 with the registration CN-ROV, which flew until December 2018. After ending service with Royal Air Maroc, the aircraft was stored and converted from a commercial airline to a freighter in December 2009.
After being converted to a freighter, it began operations for Michigan-based Kalitta Air, registered N276DH. In May 2022, the plane began flying for East Midlands-based DHL Air UK with the registration G-DHLN. After being retired on September 22, 2023, the aircraft was transferred to sister carrier DHL Air Austria and flown to Budapest for maintenance. The plane was re-registered in Austria, bearing the OE-LYA registration, and was positioned to Leipzig on October 13.
DHL Air Austria is one of six airlines owned by German package delivery and supply chain management company Deutsche Post DHL to support its global parcel delivery network. It is also part of the DHL Aviation group, including multiple contract carriers. Airlines part of the group include Air Hong Kong, DHL International Aviation Middle East, EAT Leipzig, DHL Aero Expreso, DHL de Guatemala, AeroLogic (Lufthansa has a 50% stake), and Trans Am Aero Express del Ecuador.
Based at Vienna International Airport, DHL Air Austria was formed in 2021 when DHL transferred 18 Boeing 757-200 freighters and pilots from East Midlands Airport in the United Kingdom to operate inter-European routes. DHL Air UK was then turned into DHL’s international long-haul wing.
In a filling in April 2023, the Austrian cargo airline asked the United States Department of Transportation (DOT) for a license to operate scheduled and ad hoc charter operations to the United States coupled with a two-year exemption from the requirement to have a foreign carrier permit so it could start flying while the DOT process the request. According to the filing, the cargo carrier plans to take possession of four 767-300s and fly them to and from the United States.
Are you a fan of the Boeing 767-300BCF? Let us know your thoughts in the comments.
Topics: Aviation, Airlines, Boeing