US cargo airline ABX Air has agreed to purchase a Boeing 767-223 aircraft formerly operated byAmerican Airlines and will convert it from passenger to freighter configuration.
The cost to purchase and modify the aircraft will be about $20 million. It is expected to beavailable for service in ABX Air’s ACMI charter business by early 2008.
ABX Air has 35 Boeing 767 freighter aircraft in revenue service to date, including 29 indedicated service for its largest customer, DHL, and 6 for ABX Air’s other charter and ACMIcustomers. Including aircraft still being modified, ABX Air expects to have 42 767 aircraft inservice by early 2008.
“We intend to seize opportunities to add to our Boeing 767 fleet when they become availableunder attractive terms,” ABX Air President and CEO Joe Hete said. “This purchase reflects ourconfidence in both the economic value of 767s as highly efficient, mid-size freighters, as well ascontinued strong demand from shippers for the flexible, high quality airfreight services that ABXAir provides.”
ABX Air operates out of Wilmington, Ohio, and 17 hubs throughout the United States. Inaddition to providing airlift capacity and sort facility staffing to DHL, ABX Air provides charter,maintenance and package handling services to a diverse group of customers.
