Kalitta looks to acquire 10 747 freighters from JAL

US cargo carrier Kalitta Air plans to acquire 10 Boeing 747-400 freighters from Japan Airlines (JAL) to fuel its growth over the next few years.

The Michigan-based carrier has reached agreement with the Asian operator to purchase a single General Electric CF6-80-powered Boeing 747-400BCF for delivery in May 2009.

It is also negotiating for the acquisition of a second 747-400 from JAL with a July 2009 delivery date.

A further eight 747-400 freighters are expected to be sourced from JAL, reveals Kalitta VP and general manager D C Sanderlin. “We believe that JAL will have those available later.”

He says the full batch of aircraft is expected to be delivered through 2011 and will fulfil the carrier’s anticipated capacity requirements.

Kalitta flies scheduled and charter all-cargo service; aircraft, crew, maintenance and insurance (ACMI) operations; and provides freight lift to the US Department of Defense. It also operates a repair station in Oscoda, Michigan.

According to Flight’s ACAS database, Kalitta’s fleet currently comprises 25 747 freighters.

Kalitta says it uses 19 of these in regular operation, and the remainder for spare parts. An additional widebody hangar is under construction with a completion date of January 2008.

“The technological advances of the 747-400 BCF include significantly greater range and fuel efficiency over earlier model Boeing freighters, making it an ideal aircraft for our global network,” says Kalitta CEO Connie Kalitta.

She says the carrier’s first purchase of a 747-400BCF “marks a milestone for Kalitta Air, which is completing another year of record revenues and is solidly positioned for future growth”.

JAL’s first 747-400BCF underwent modification at China’s Taikoo (Xiamen) Aircraft Engineering, and was received by the carrier in May 2006. At that time, JAL had seven more 747-400BCFs on firm order and held options for another four aircraft.