YTO Cargo Airlines (YG, Hangzhou) is shopping for B757 passenger jets for use in converting to freighters, CargoFacts has reported quoting informed sources familiar with the situation.
According to the report, the Chinese logistics specialist is in talks with an unspecified third party over the proposed acquisition of nine B757s. The carrier is believed to have also reached a deal with China Southern Airlines (CZ, Guangzhou) to acquire five of its outgoing B757s. The report also dispelled as incorrect other reports which had pointed to YTO sourcing "more than ten" converted B757-200s from American Airlines (AA, Dallas/Fort Worth) via Boeing (BOE, Washington National).
As it stands, this purchase, should it go through, will be used to anchor parent firm YTO Express's international expansion programme the bulk of whose costs will go towards aircraft acquisitions. By 2020, YTO Express Airlines plans to operate a fleet of fifty aircraft which, aside from the B737-300(F)s it currently operates and the anticipated B757 purchases, will also include at least three widebody freighters due in 2018.
YTO Airlines currently operates five B737-300(F)s on regular cargo flights throughout China. A further five are to be acquired from other carriers as an interim measure.
