A New chapter: KF Aerospace upgrades Purolator’s BC feeder fleet

Long gone are the days of DC-10s and 727s streaking across Canadian skies. However, Kelowna Flightcraft, now rebranded as KF Aerospace, continues to serve a niche in the Canadian market. In November 2024, The new contract spans ten years and stipulates that KF Aerospace upgrade the BCFN fleet from Convair 580 aircraft to three modern ATR72-500F aircraft. Historical context The relationship between KF Aerospace and Purolator began in 1976, when KF’s founder, Barry Lapointe, personally piloted a high-priority cargo flight from Vancouver to Toronto at Purolator’s request. For nearly fifty years since, Purolator and KF Aerospace have worked closely together. Lapointe, a Canadian aviation legend, remains on the Purolator Board of Directors and, at one time, owned up to 7% of the company. KF Aerospace’s involvement in Purolator’s cargo operations evolved significantly over the years, including supporting Purolator’s entire Canadian network from 1994 to 2015, as well as operating a daytime network utilizing multiple DC-10s for Purolator’s majority shareholder (91%), Canada Post. In 2015, KF lost the bulk of Purolator’s nationwide flying to Cargojet but retained the BCFN. Details of renewed contract The 10-year agreement will extend the partnership through 2035. KF Aerospace will replace its three Convair aircraft with three ATR72-500F planes, featuring two containerized and one bulk-loader configuration. It is unclear if this was a contractual requirement, although it mirrors previous operations. (Credit/Cargo Facts analysis of Purolator’s BCFN)

Aircraft routing is as follows: KFA574/575 operates between Vancouver and Victoria, utilizing a containerized aircraft. KFA576/577 operates between Vancouver and Kelowna, utilizing a containerized aircraft. KFA578/579 operates between Vancouver and Kamloops before continuing to Prince George, then returns in the afternoon, utilizing a bulk-loaded aircraft. The contract also includes service to Nanaimo. Historically, this has been subcontracted to a smaller carrier. No information is available regarding future plans for this service. Fleet modernization: Transition to ATR72-500F The ATR72-500F features a maximum takeoff weight of 48,500 pounds, providing a payload of 19,000 pounds. In a containerized configuration, the aircraft can carry seven LD-3 (AKE) containers, five 88-inch by 108-inch pallets, or nine 88-inch by 62-inch pallets, with additional bulk space. Total cargo volume is 2,700 cubic feet. The ATR72-500F offers a notable increase in capacity compared to the Convair 580, which had a payload of 16,000 pounds and a cargo capacity of 2,500 cubic feet. It is unclear if other aircraft were considered, but a suitable alternative would be the Dash 8 Q400 freighter, which received certification from Transport Canada in July 2024. The ATRs will bring increased reliability, flexibility and fuel savings to the network. KF Aerospace acquired an ATR 72-500 bulk freighter (MSN 736), registered as C-FIJT, from ACIA Aero Leasing (ACIA), a leading provider of regional aircraft leasing and lease management services based in Dublin. The aircraft was expected to enter KF’s air cargo fleet as early as April, but as of late last month, FlightRadar24 did not show any notable activity. The aircraft ferried to Kelowna International Airport (YLW) on April 3 from Coeur d'Alene Airport (COE). This aircraft is not new to the parcel business, having previously operated with Silver Airways on behalf of Amazon Air, prior to losing the contract and subsequently declaring Chapter 11 bankruptcy in the United States. It is unclear if this aircraft will remain in a bulk configuration or will be converted to the containerized variant with a large cargo door. However, it seems unlikely that KF would undertake modifications if the aircraft is already in a serviceable state. The second aircraft, C-GKFD (MSN 707), is a 21-year-old ATR that has been stored at YLW since September 2021 and appears to be undergoing conversion at KF’s MRO facility at YLW. According to a KF Aerospace release, the third aircraft will be sourced later in 2025. The ATR72-500F is increasing in popularity in Canada, with nine aircraft in service. Michael Mooney, chief executive of ACIA, stated in a KF Aerospace release that the sale of C-FIJT to KF was the second ATR72 it had placed in Canada in the past six months. The second aircraft he is likely referring to is C-FGCT (MSN 727), in November 2024. In March, FedEx exercised options for ten ATR 72-600Fs from ATR [FATs 10386-10395]. These options were a part of an order placed in 2024, bringing the total order to forty aircraft. Operational, strategic implications Purolator has previously operated additional feeder routes, including a route between Winnipeg (YWG) and Thunder Bay (YQT) that was flown by a KF Aerospace Convair 580. It also experimented with routes into the U.S. Voyageur Aviation, a subsidiary of Chorus Aviation, operated two Dash 8-100 package freighters on an ACMI basis for Purolator starting in 2021. However, Castle Aviation was brought on to support in 2022 and eventually took over the flying. Castle operates three SAAB 340BF aircraft on behalf of Purolator between Ontario, Quebec and the U.S. With newer, more efficient ATRs in the fleet, there may be opportunities for additional flying with Purolator. Conclusion KF Aerospace’s renewed commitment to Purolator and the modernization of the BC Feeder Network with ATR72-500F aircraft marks a significant step forward for both companies. Building on nearly five decades of partnership, this next chapter not only enhances operational efficiency and capacity, but also reinforces KF Aerospace’s role as a key player in Canada’s regional cargo landscape. As the industry continues to evolve, the flexibility and reliability offered by the ATRs position KF Aerospace to support Purolator’s growing needs and perhaps even open the door to future expansion opportunities.

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A New chapter: KF Aerospace upgrades Purolator’s BC feeder fleet

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