Express carrier partner ASL Aviation buys 747 freighters from lessor
Dublin-based ASL Aviation Holdings has purchased two Boeing 747-400 freighters to maintain long-haul cargo consistency while expanding its presence in the Australian market.
ASL Aviation Holdings, a logistics firm based in Ireland, has acquired two Boeing 747-400 freighter jets that were previously being utilized under lease agreements. According to FreightWaves, the purchase from Seattle-based lessor Altavair allows the company's Belgian subsidiary to maintain its current long-haul flight capacity. A spokesperson for the firm, Saoirse Claffey, stated that the acquisition was intended to avoid an "interruption in long-haul air transportation services" after the previous owner opted to sell the jumbo jets.
The transaction coincides with a broader strategic shift as the company grows its footprint in Australia and New Zealand. ASL is currently moving several narrowbody cargo planes from its European fleet to its Australian division to bolster regional operations. This expansion supports existing contracts with major logistics entities like FedEx and Qantas Freight. The company is currently managing the regulatory and staffing requirements necessary to integrate these additional aircraft into its Southern Hemisphere service network.
Operating a total fleet of 150 aircraft, ASL Aviation provides specialized transport for global e-commerce and express delivery giants including Amazon and UPS. The group maintains cargo subsidiaries across Europe and Asia, alongside a passenger service in South Africa. The recent move into the Australian market followed the 2023 purchase of Pionair, and the company has since begun utilizing facilities at the new Western Sydney International Airport to facilitate further growth in its Pacific freight operations.
Editorial Desk — Trade Flow Insight. Reporting and market notes compiled by the Trade Flow Insight editorial team.
Related coverage
Elisabeth Braw: The Undersea War
A ship’s anchor can wreak havoc on the world’s undersea infrastructure, something that has provided plenty of rich material for Splash reporting in recent years. For Elisabeth Braw, the Cook Islands-flagged tanker Eagle S provides one of the most brazen examples. On Christmas Day 2024, the vessel was accused of dragging its anchor 90 km …
Borderlands Mexico: US takes 76% of vehicle exports as September shipments plunge
Borderlands Mexico is a weekly rundown of developments in the world of United States-Mexico cross-border trucking and trade. This week in Borderlands Mexico: US takes 76% of vehicle exports as September shipments plunge; DSV expands US-Mexico freight operations with McAllen office; and Texas university seeks $772,700 for AI-powered Laredo freight project. US takes 76% of vehicle exports as September shipments plunge More than three-quarters of Mexico’s light-vehicle exports were destined for the U.S. during the first nine months of 2026, underscoring the importance of cross-border automotive t
Oil Surges as Iran Tanker Attacks Escalate
Crude posted its biggest gain in a month amid Middle East tensions and hurricane-related production cuts.