Magma Aviation adds 747-400 freighter to fleet

Magma Aviation adds fourth 747-400 freighter to its fleet. (Photo: Magma Aviation)

Charter operator Magma Aviation has added a 747-400 freighter to its fleet as it looks to attract cargo customers and expand.

Sister company AviaAM Leasing purchased the plane and is providing it to Magma, the companies said in a news release. AviaAM did not reveal the age, origin or price tag of the factory-built aircraft. The 747-400 freighter offers nose-loading capacity and a 121-ton cargo payload.

Magma said the freighter conducted its first commercial cargo flight on Aug. 4.

Magma now manages a fleet of four 747-400 freighters. It markets the capacity and handles flight support services, but outsources actual flying to airline crews.

All-cargo aircraft are in high demand this year because the destruction of passenger networks by the coronavirus pandemic created a large capacity shortage.

Magma representatives declined to name any specific clients using the new aircraft, but the company recently began providing airlift to German forwarder Senator International.

Parent company Avia Solutions acquired U.K.-based Chapman Freeborn, a specialist in humanitarian air cargo transport, last year. In addition to Magma, the acquisition included four other Chapman entities and expanded Avia’s overall ownership to 110 companies in 32 countries.

Related news

Atlas Air capitalizes on transport shortages for big Q2 profit gain

Cargo clogs US airports as freighters proliferate

Chapman Freeborn buys emergency airfreight logistics provider


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Chris Gillis

Located in the Washington, D.C. area, Chris Gillis primarily reports on regulatory and legislative topics that impact cross-border trade. He joined American Shipper in 1994, shortly after graduating from Mount St. Mary’s College in Emmitsburg, Md., with a degree in international business and economics.