Allied Air (4W, Lagos Murtala Muhammad (LOS)) is set to replace its fleet of three ageing B727-200(F)s with three B737-400s, the first of which, (MSN 26081), is set to undergo conversion into a B737-400(F) freighter at Aeronautical Engineers, Inc. in Jacksonville Cecil Field (VQQ) in June. The Nigerian cargo carrier already operates a B737-400(F), 5N-OTT (MSN 24529), on behalf of DHL Aviation (South Africa) (DHV, Lanseria (HLA)). Allied Air has also been taking steps to expand its regional West African market presence of late with the recent introduction of a once weekly Ostend Brugge International (OST) to Freetown Lungi International (FNA) via Lagos Murtala Muhammad (LOS) flight operated with one of its three MD-11(F)s wet-leased from World Airways (WO, Atlanta Hartsfield Jackson International (ATL)).

Etihad Airways (EY, Abu Dhabi International (AUH)) has moved its four weekly cargo flights between Abu Dhabi International (AUH) and Frankfurt from Frankfurt Hahn (HHN) to Frankfurt International (FRA) with immediate effect saying it expects the change to the more central main airport would significantly increase demand from cargo customers. In other news, Etihad Cargo has announced that it plans to remain MD-11(F) N382WA (MSN 48411) currently wet-leased from US partner World Airways (WO, Atlanta Hartsfield Jackson International (ATL)) by a second B747-400(F) on wet-lease from Atlas Air (5Y, New York John F. Kennedy International (JFK)).

KLM Royal Dutch Airlines (KL, Amsterdam Schiphol (AMS)) has started the retirement of its MD-11 fleet earlier this month when it has operated its last revenue service with PH-KCH (MSN 48562) from Delhi Indira Gandhi International (DEL) to Amsterdam. KLM is the only remaining MD-11 operator still using the aircraft on scheduled passenger service. Additional MD-11s in passenger configuration are operated by Mid East Jet (XAH, Jeddah King Abdul Aziz (JED)), Saudi Arabian Royal Flight (SVA, Riyadh King Khalid (RUH)) and World Airways (WO, Atlanta Hartsfield Jackson International (ATL)).

Etihad Airways (EY, Abu Dhabi International (AUH)) will wet-lease a B747-400(F) freighter from ACMI specialist Atlas Air (5Y, New York John F. Kennedy International (JFK)) from June. Besides its own freighters, two A330-200(F) and a single B777-F, it currently also wet-leases a MD-11(F) from World Airways (WO, Atlanta Hartsfield Jackson International (ATL)) and two A300-600(F)s from Maximus Air (MXU, Abu Dhabi International (AUH)).

North American Airlines (NA, New York John F. Kennedy International (JFK)) and World Airways (WO, Atlanta Hartsfield Jackson International (ATL)) parent Global Aviation Holdings has filed for chapter 11 bankruptcy protection on February 5 and plans to restructure and reemerge from bankruptcy with smaller fleets for both carriers. It is expected that lower demand from the US military for long-haul charter services has contributed to the financial difficulties the two carriers are now facing.