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.
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