DAVID FULLBROOK / SINGAPORE
China Postal and Hainan plan to maximise revenue with used quick change aircraft
Two Chinese airlines plan to acquire used Boeing 737 quick change (QC) aircraft to take advantage of an anticipated boom in demand for domestic cargo shipments.
China Postal Airlines wants three freighters to replace some or all of its five Shaanxi Aircraft Y-8Fs, while Hainan Airlines is in talks with Lufthansa for a handful of -300QCs.
Another Chinese carrier, Shandong Airlines, already operates a pair of 737-300QCs.
China Postal is looking at the feasibility of leasing three early model 737s, most likely -300QCs, although the older 737-200 has not been ruled out, says China Southern Airlines company secretary Su Liang.
China Southern bought a 49% stake in Postal - China's first dedicated freight carrier - in June.
China Postal favours QC aircraft because they can rapidly switch from the passenger-carrying role during the day to fly freight by night, boosting their revenue-generating potential. The 737s would replace three 16-year-old Y-8Fs, and possibly two delivered this year.
Hainan Airlines' talks with the German flag carrier are at an early stage, says Ren Wei Dong, an official in the Chinese company's aircraft leasing and purchasing department.
Ren declines to comment on how many aircraft are needed. However, Hainan is believed to be considering taking up to three aircraft.
Hainan is also looking to add other narrowbody aircraft to its fast-growing passenger fleet, possibly adding more Next Generation 737s to its 13 -800s, replacing its seven older 737-400s and five -300s.
The airline is due to receive its first widebodies by year-end - three Boeing 767-300ERs - which will be deployed initially on domestic trunk routes and regional services to Seoul and Singapore. They could also fly transpacific routes next year.
Source: Flight International
