Main photo above by Malcolm Nason.
The 50th Boeing 737BCF (Boeing Converted Freighter) has been delivered to Irish based ASL Aviation Holdings as part of its order for 20 737-800BCF aircraft. The aircraft will operate for ASL’s JV airline K-Mile Asia based in Bangkok and will be the first B737-800 freighter in Thailand (HS-KMD). This is the second aircraft re-delivered as part of the ASL Boeing BCF programme. 737-800BCF F-HIQB was re-delivered to ASL Airlines France and aircraft #3, F-HIQC, is currently in paint at IAC in Shannon before it enters service with ASL Airlines France in Paris-CDG.
All three of these aircraft originally operated for Ryanair. F-HIQB is ex. EI-DPS but operated for Pegasus in Turkey from 2014 until last year. F-HIQC (ex. EI-DLO) and HS-KMD (ex. EI-DLR) both continued to operate for Ryanair until late last year.
Based on the popular Next-Generation 737, the Boeing 737-800BCF is meeting customer demand for a newer-generation freighter that offers higher reliability and lower fuel consumption and operating costs per trip compared to other standard body freighters. The 737-800BCF is up to 15% more fuel efficient and has lower CO2 per tonne than the 737-400SF. Primarily used to carry express cargo on domestic or short-haul routes, the airplane is capable of carrying up to 23.9 tonnes (52,800 pounds) and flying up to 3,750km’s (2,025 nautical miles).
