Challenge Group has entered into an ACMI (Aircraft, Crew, Maintenance and Insurance) partnership with US cargo carrier Kalitta Air for the operation of a newly converted Boeing 777-300ERSF — the first aircraft of its kind to enter international service.
Aircraft lessor AerCap delivered the first two 777-300ERSF freighters to Kalitta Air in September, following certification of Israel Aerospace Industries’ (IAI) passenger-to-freighter conversion programme in late August.
Under the new agreement, the aircraft — registered N771CK — will begin operations on a Tel Aviv–Dubai–Hong Kong–Tel Aviv rotation, marking its debut on global cargo routes.
Challenge Group said the partnership will enable it to evaluate the aircraft’s operational performance and gain practical experience with the 777-300ERSF platform before the arrival of its own aircraft of the same type later this year.
The company signed a deal with AerCap in January to add two of the converted freighters to its fleet. Its first 777-300ERSF, registered under Challenge Airlines MT’s Maltese AOC, will be the first of its kind registered in the EASA region.
Or Zak, chief commercial officer at Challenge Group, said: “This partnership with Kalitta Air is a significant step in our long-term strategy to integrate the Boeing 777-300ERSF into our fleet.
“It allows us to familiarise ourselves with this new aircraft type, ensuring we are fully prepared to operate it to the highest standards and deliver more efficient, flexible and sustainable air cargo solutions.”
Heath Nicholl, chief operating officer and executive vice president at Kalitta Air, added: “We are pleased to partner with Challenge Group on the introduction of the first-of-its-kind Boeing 777-300ERSF into international service.”
Nicknamed “The Big Twin”, the Boeing 777-300ERSF is jointly developed by AerCap and IAI and offers a payload capacity of around 100 tonnes. The model is expected to become a key player in the next generation of long-haul, widebody freighters.
