The European arm of US express-parcels carrier DHL has increased its Airbus A300B4-200F freighter acquisition programme to nine aircraft.
The airline has also received its first Daimler-Benz Aerospace Airbus (Dasa Airbus)-converted aircraft, following certification of the cargo conversion.
The aircraft, one of three ex-Egyptair A300B4s being leased from Pinnacle Aircraft Leasing, is being operated for Brussels-based DHL International by Hunting Cargo Airlines. DHL has already conducted flying trials with a Channel Express A300B4 freighter (converted by British Aerospace Aviation Services) on a 90-day wet lease. DHL says that this lease may now be extended, or another aircraft taken. Two ex-Continental Airlines A300s will also be leased from US company Household Finance, and three more wet-leased from Switzerland's Farnair.
German Federal Aviation Authority approval of the A300 freighter conversion, which had originally been expected in the third quarter of 1997, was finally granted in December after five test flights. Hunting is operating the first aircraft on DHL's daily Stockholm-Copenhagen-Brussels run, while the Channel Express aircraft is being flown on the Stockholm-Copenhagen-East Midlands service.
Source: Flight International
