ASL Aviation Holdings has completed the acquisition of two Boeing 747-400ERF freighter aircraft, registrations OE-IFB and OE-IFD, that had previously operated within the ASL Group fleet under lease. Ownership of both aircraft transferred to the Group on 7 August 2026, converting leased capacity into owned long-haul freighter assets.

ASL Aviation Holdings, headquartered in Swords, Dublin, is a global aviation services group operating eight airlines across Europe, Australia, South Africa and Asia. In its most recently filed accounts, the group reported revenue of 1.45 billion euros for 2023, with a loss before tax of 24.3 million euros.

The two aircraft, MSN 33516 and MSN 33945, are operated by ASL Airlines Belgium and will continue supporting the Group's global air cargo operations. Both were already established within ASL's long-haul freighter fleet prior to the ownership change.

The transaction forms part of ASL Aviation Holdings' ongoing fleet and asset strategy, aimed at expanding the Group's owned aircraft portfolio and strengthening its long-haul freighter business. The Group said the move supports the continued development of its international air cargo platform and its ability to meet long-term airline and customer requirements.

ASL's airline portfolio includes ASL Airlines Ireland, ASL Airlines Belgium, ASL Airlines France and ASL Airlines United Kingdom, alongside ASL Airlines Australia. The Group also holds an associate stake in South African low-cost carrier FlySafair and joint-venture cargo airlines K-Mile Asia in Thailand and Quikjet Airlines in India.

The Group employs around 3,000 people of 51 nationalities and operates a fleet of 150 aircraft spanning seven types, from the ATR 72 turboprop to the Boeing 747. Its airlines provide cargo services for major express parcel integrators and eCommerce retailers, alongside scheduled and charter cargo and passenger operations across Europe, Asia, the Middle East, North America and Africa.

For the sector, the acquisition reflects a wider shift among cargo operators toward owned long-haul freighter capacity as demand for global air cargo services continues to grow.

Source: Clare Herald / ASL Aviation Holdings