CMI News Today: ATSG Sells Omni Air, AnimaWings Grounds A220s, flydubai Wet-Leases Freighters (October 7, 2026)
AerSale leases a 757 freighter to Mister Air, ATSG sells passenger ACMI carrier Omni Air, AnimaWings grounds its A220s, Pegasus closes Smartwings and flydubai wet-leases freighters. Plus IATA's August cargo data.
ACMI News Today: ATSG Exits Passenger ACMI, AnimaWings Hands Back Its A220s and flydubai Wet-Leases Freighters
The capacity market is splitting in two directions this week. Cargo specialists are narrowing their focus and placing more narrowbody freighters, while weaker passenger operators in Europe are returning aircraft to lessors. Here is what matters for ACMI providers, lessors and capacity buyers today.
Today at a glance
ATSG is selling Omni Air to concentrate on cargo, a Romanian startup takes a 757 freighter to fly under its own certificate, AnimaWings grounds six A220s in insolvency, Pegasus closes the Smartwings takeover and flydubai launches cargo flights with wet-leased 737-800Fs. IATA's August data shows cargo demand still growing faster than capacity.
AerSale places a 757-200PCF with Romania's Mister Air Transport
AerSale has leased a Boeing 757-200PCF to Mister Air Transport, a Romanian cargo airline that will fly freighter services for its stakeholder AerCommerce. The aircraft lets Mister Air move away from third-party charter capacity and operate with its own crews and air operator certificate, with revenue expected to start this month.
It is the latest in a run of 757 freighter placements with emerging cargo operators. AerSale placed one with Kazakhstan's Jupiter Jet in September and another with Uzbekistan's Stratos Freight in March.
ATSG agrees to sell passenger ACMI carrier Omni Air International
Air Transport Services Group has agreed to sell Omni Air International to OAI Holdings, a private company led by an experienced aviation management team. Financial terms were not disclosed. Omni, founded in 1993, provides passenger charter and ACMI wet-lease services to commercial and government customers.
According to ch-aviation, Omni operates 14 widebodies: three 767-200ERs, eight 767-300ERs and three 777-200ERs, with 11 owned by ATSG's leasing arm Cargo Aircraft Management. The deal needs regulatory approval and is expected to close in the fourth quarter of 2026 or early 2027. After closing, ATSG, owned by Stonepeak since last year, will focus on air cargo, aircraft leasing and related services.
AnimaWings files for insolvency and withdraws its A220 fleet
Romanian carrier AnimaWings filed for insolvency in Bucharest on September 30 after announcing it would phase out all six of its new Airbus A220-300s because of recurring technical problems. It has suspended flights from October 2 to October 24 and plans a revised winter programme from October 25 using its two A320s.
Lessors are moving quickly. Romanian outlet Economica.net reported that two A220s leased from SMBC Aviation Capital and Air Lease Corporation flew to Toulouse shortly after the filing, while the other four are leased from Azorra. AnimaWings denied that unpaid lease payments caused the withdrawal and has not blamed the Pratt & Whitney engines.
Pegasus completes its takeover of Smartwings and Czech Airlines
Pegasus Airlines has completed the acquisition of Smartwings Group for EUR142.3 million through its Dutch subsidiary Pegasus Europe B.V. Smartwings operates 45 in-house aircraft across four AOCs in Czechia, Poland, Slovakia and Hungary. Czech Airlines is no longer a certificated carrier and continues as a brand within the group.
The combined fleet exceeds 175 aircraft, with firm orders for 140 more across the two airlines.
flydubai starts freighter flights with three wet-leased 737-800Fs
flydubai has launched dedicated freighter operations with three Boeing 737-800 freighters wet-leased from SolitAir, based at Dubai World Central from October 1. The airline is targeting pharmaceuticals, perishables, live animals, dangerous goods and aerospace parts.
The October network published by AeroRoutes includes Doha, Erbil, Karachi, Kuwait City and Sulaymaniyah, plus a weekly Kabul–Delhi rotation.
IATA: August air cargo demand up 4.4% as capacity stays flat
IATA's August figures show cargo demand up 4.4% year on year, with international demand up 5.3%, while capacity slipped 0.1%. Every region grew. North American carriers led at 6.6% even as capacity fell 2.5%, and Middle Eastern carriers were weakest at 1.0%.
The regional breakdown summarised by CAPA shows African capacity up 14% against 3% demand growth, while Gulf-linked corridors remain disrupted by the Middle East conflict. Jet fuel was 79.2% higher than a year earlier. Europe–Middle East traffic fell 12.1%, its sixth straight monthly decline, while European carriers posted the highest load factor at 53%.
Deal tracker
| Deal | Parties | Aircraft | Timing | Capacity signal |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 757 freighter leaseDry lease | AerSale → Mister Air Transport | 1 × 757-200PCF | Revenue from October 2026 | Startup moves from charter to its own AOC |
| Omni Air saleM&A | ATSG → OAI Holdings | 14 widebodies (767 / 777) | Q4 2026 or early 2027 | Cargo lessor exits passenger ACMI |
| AnimaWings insolvencyRestructuring | Lessors SMBC, ALC, Azorra | 6 × A220-300 withdrawn | Filed September 30 | Short-term wet-lease demand in Romania |
| Smartwings takeoverM&A | Pegasus → Smartwings Group | 45 in-house aircraft | Closed October 1 | More seasonal capacity sourced in-group |
| flydubai CargoCargo wet lease | SolitAir → flydubai | 3 × 737-800F | From October 1 | Passenger airline tests cargo via ACMI |
Other moves worth tracking
- Navi Mumbai: Challenge Group has suspended freighter flights to the new Navi Mumbai airport over operational problems, while Ethiopian Airlines has ordered 777-8 and 777 freighters, according to Air Cargo News. Cathay Cargo recently moved its Mumbai freighters to the airport.
- Ameriflight and CMA CGM: Ameriflight has named David Harvey as president and CEO, and CMA CGM has closed its USD 1.4 billion purchase of FedEx Supply Chain (same Air Cargo News roundup).
- PIA: the newly privatised carrier is adding two aircraft on a six-month wet lease from October, ch-aviation reported.
- IndiGo / Norse: the six Norse Atlantic 787s on ACMI with IndiGo are due back by October 31, InsideFlyer noted, putting widebody capacity back on the market for winter.
For capacity buyers comparing options, see our list of top cargo ACMI providers and our guide to freighter insurance requirements. Operators financing freighter acquisitions or conversions can explore structured finance advisory through Financely.
Frequently asked questions
Why is ATSG selling Omni Air International?
ATSG says the sale of Omni Air International, its passenger ACMI and charter airline, to OAI Holdings lets it concentrate on air cargo, aircraft leasing and related maintenance and logistics services. Closing is expected in the fourth quarter of 2026 or early 2027, subject to regulatory approval.
What happened to AnimaWings' Airbus A220 fleet?
AnimaWings filed for insolvency in Bucharest on September 30, 2026 and withdrew its six Airbus A220-300s, citing recurring technical problems. It suspended scheduled flights from October 2 to October 24 and plans a revised winter programme from October 25 using its two A320s.
Who operates flydubai's new freighters?
flydubai's three Boeing 737-800 freighters are operated under a wet-lease agreement with SolitAir. Operations began on October 1, 2026 from Dubai World Central (Al Maktoum International).
How did global air cargo demand perform in August 2026?
IATA reported that air cargo demand rose 4.4% year on year in August 2026, with international demand up 5.3%, while capacity slipped 0.1%. North American carriers grew fastest at 6.6%, and Middle Eastern carriers were weakest at 1.0%.
Key takeaways
Cargo is pulling capital and attention away from passenger ACMI, as ATSG's exit from Omni shows, while narrowbody freighters such as the 757 and 737-800F remain the entry point for new cargo operators. In Europe, airline failures and consolidation are bringing aircraft back to lessors and reshaping who buys seasonal wet-lease capacity. With cargo demand still outpacing capacity and fuel costs high, both freighter ACMI providers and their customers should review fuel and rate escalation terms before peak season. For airlines planning winter capacity, see cargo hub selection and leading air cargo charter brokers.
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