If you told me in 2018 that Air Belgium would be around in 2022 and would be flying Boeing 747s, I wouldn’t have believed you. Well, it looks like that’s what’s happening?
Continue reading: Air Belgium Adding Boeing 747-8s To Cargo Fleet
Share your questions, experiences, and thoughts below.
Look at their business model now, maybe they should pay you a consulting fee for the blog you wrote in '18.
Well, regardless of business model, cargo flights were the one area of aviation that was essentially pandemic-proof. Perhaps they will use the money earned from cargo operations to fund passenger ops on other aircraft.
There is no 747-8 BCF or any other type of conversion on the market. So even if there were retired 747-8, you could not do it. With the A350F and the 777-XF coming on market its questionable if there ever will be (you don't get a nose loading ability with a BCF)
It should be notable that the A330-200Fs are actually operated by Air Belgium for CMA CGM Air Cargo, a new division of the French shipping conglomerate CMA CGM. Thus they are painted in the CMA CGM livery instead of Air Belgium’s, but they do have “operated by Air Belgium” stickers on the side. I think it’s because Air Belgium provides the pilots, crew, maintenance, and the other aviation-related assets. I’m curious if the A350Fs that CMA CGM has on order will also be operated by Air Belgium.
I’ve sent in my cv to join as a 747 captain and am as excited as the rest of the av community about the prospects.