ATRAN Airlines to lease two additional 737-800 Boeing converted freighters from GECAS
ATRAN Airlines has taken delivery of a 737-800 Boeing Converted freighter (BCF) from GE Capital Aviation Services (GECAS) and a second is slated to deliver later this month to the scheduled express cargo carrier, which is part of the Russia-based Volga-Dnepr Group.
These aircraft join the two 737-800BCF freighters ATRAN and GECAS announced in October of 2018 and which entered service in March and October of 2019, adding further capacity to ATRAN’s short- and mid-range routes linking Europe, China, Russia and the CIS.
“GECAS is delighted Volga-Dnepr have found the 737-800BCFs well suited to grow their operations and are thrilled to provide these additional freighters to ATRAN,” stated Richard Greener, GECAS’ SVP & Manager Cargo Aircraft Group.
Having delivered 34 of the converted 737-800BCF and with more than 60 on order, GECAS is the largest customer of the type for Boeing’s conversion program. Equipped with CFM56-7B engines, the narrow-body 737-800 freighter carries up to 23.5 tonnes of cargo.
“At ATRAN, we appreciate the support from GECAS’ Cargo team as we continue to expand our fleet and network. Boeing 737-800BCF constitutes the backbone of our fleet and additional planes will enable us to provide more solutions and guarantee high-quality services to our customers,” stated Vitaliy Andreev, General Director of ATRAN Airlines.
From its base at Moscow’s Vnukovo International Airport, the carrier provides dedicated cargo services for mail and express shipments to support the growing e-commerce volume and accommodate cross-border online purchases.