UPDATED DAILY SHIPPING NEWS FOR TUESDAY MAY 03, 2016

Accusations fly as Atlas Air pilots' union requests mediation.

A dispute involving 1,300 pilots flying for DHL-contracted airlines Atlas Air and Polar Air Cargo in the US looks set to go to mediation.  The Teamsters union said on 26 April that the National Mediation Board (NMB) which facilitates labour relations in aviation had agreed to the request despite the fact that the companies had “strongly objected”.

It added that the NMB had assigned a specialist airline labour mediator to assess the parties’ dispute and determine how best to proceed.   In response, Atlas Air said it believed the request for mediation was premature as negotiations had only just begun

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"The NMB is currently investigating how to best move forward and will let the parties know what it concludes. While we continue to believe this request is early, we will cooperate fully with the process," Atlas said.  

Atlas pilot Captain Mike Griffith and union communications chairman said that his colleagues were “fed up with Atlas and Atlas Air Worldwide Holdings (AAWW)’s game playing and backroom corporate maneuvering to try to deny us basic workplace protections like the much-needed time to rest between international flights.”

AEI bags new freighter conversion orders.

Aeronautical Engineers (AEI) has signed a contract with Vallair to provide the company with four 11 pallet position Boeing 737-400SF freighter conversions.  All of the conversions will be modified by Commercial Jet’s Dothan, Alabama facility with the first one commencing in May 2016, followed by the remaining three modifications in June, July and September of this year.

"The AEI B737-400SF is the only passenger to freighter conversion product that offers operators ten full height 88” x 125” container positions," said AEI.  The additional container position increases AEI’s volumetric carrying capability by 10%.   The deal is the latest in a spate of conversion orders, primarily fuelled by demand from the express industry.

Last week, PACAVI confirmed the first orders for its Airbus A320-321passenger-to-freighter (P2F) conversion programme.  São Paulo based business charter company Colt Aviation/Colt Cargo, has ordered two converted A321 freighters with an option for one more and Norway’s Airline Management will acquire six A320 freighters.

Etihad adds new freighter connection into Muscat.

Etihad Cargo, the freight division of the UAE’s national flag-carrier, Etihad Airways, has introduced a new twice a week freighter service to Muscat, Oman, from its home hub of Abu Dhabi.  It has also added an additional frequency on its link to Kuwait City. Both routes are operated by Airbus A330 freighter.

David Kerr, vice president of Etihad Cargo, observed: “By strengthening our existing connectivity to Kuwait and introducing a new freighter service to Muscat, our frequency in the Middle East has now increased to 11 flights weekly.

“The Middle East market continues to perform strongly for us and is at the core of our operation. We will also be looking to expand elsewhere around the globe during the year ahead.”

That programme of expansion is being boosted by the addition of new freighters to the Etihad Cargo fleet (a B777F was delivered at the end of February and an A330F is expected later this year). Currently, Etihad’s freighter inventory consists of three B747 freighters, four B777Fs and four A330-200Fs

SF Airlines takes delivery of latest converted freighter.

PEMCO World Air Services has announced the redelivery of a Boeing 737-300 freighter aircraft to China-based SF Airlines, the air cargo division of SF Express.  The freighter, converted by PEMCO’s partner STAECO in Jinan Shandong, China, marks the fourteenth redelivery of a B737-300/400 to SF Airlines since 2013.  

SF Airlines plans to add five more PEMCO converted aircraft to its cargo fleet this year.  SF Airlines is a leading courier in China providing delivery service to over 15 countries, including the US.    PEMCO and STAECO have partnered on more than 50 Boeing 737-300 and -400 freighter modification projects since 2006.   

PEMCO’s latest 737-300 freighter conversion for SF Airlines provides nine pallet positions, up to 43,100 pounds of payload, and 4,600 cubic feet of total volume.

Slow start to the year for production freighter orders.

Orders for production freighter aircraft slowed in the first quarter of this year, but Boeing’s 747-8 programme did receive a boost through an order for four of the aircraft.

The latest updates from Boeing and Airbus show that during the first quarter of the year four orders were placed for B747-8 freighter aircraft from an unnamed customer, while FedEx placed an order for a single B767-300 freighter.

The total of five production freighters ordered during the quarter compares with 14 placed during the same period last year, when Korean Air ordered five B777Fs, Etihad took another two of the aircraft, Silk Way went in for three B747-8s, and Turkish Airlines opted for four Airbus 330-200Fs.

The order for the B747-8 aircraft provides a boost for the famous model, which has seen production levels cut of late based on a weak outlook for the cargo market