Peak Season 2018

Every December, consumer demand around the holidays generates a huge increase in the volume of air cargo. As a result, many avgeeks get the opportunity to see aircraft that wouldn't normally visit their home airport; while peak affects all of the cargo carriers, it is especially apparent for UPS Airlines, who leases aircraft from other operators to meet their capacity requirements.

This list was generated by analyzing the smart flight alerts JetTip has sent over the past couple of weeks; if you're interested in catching unusual peak season flights at your airport, please give it a try! The filterable flight board at SDF (where UPS has their main hub) is also freely available this week.

Are there any interesting flights I didn't include? Shoot me an email at hello@jettip.net or tweet @JetTipNet. Last updated Dec 18.

ABX

B763, N767AX: BDL, BWI, CLT, CVG, ONT, SMF
B763, N797AX (DHL): LAX, MCE, PDX, SDF

Thanks to all for the heads-up about the Asia Pacific Airlines 757F visit — it was a sight to behold on a rainy Seattle afternoon.@JetTipNet @jetcitystar @tomkorocz @Speedbird2706 @photoJDL @zeraphoto @brandonsblog @jimhammerand @apoure25 @f3akhil pic.twitter.com/1XIPXwLTuF
— Francis Zera (@zeraphoto) December 10, 2018

Asia Pacific Airlines

N757QM, an Asia Pacific Airlines 757 freighter, appears to be flying for UPS and bouncing between BFI, ONT, and PDX.

Asiana Cargo

Asiana Cargo has added a stop at MIA to their usual route between ANC and JFK.

Looks like there wasn't enough time to get this B763 painted in time for peak flying for UPS! N373AA made its first revenue flight after freighter conversion yesterday, and is operated by ATI. https://t.co/V69GvKvEKW
— JetTip (@JetTipNet) December 11, 2018

ATI

B763 N373AA is noteworthy for getting pressed into service before paint could be applied. It's made appearances at BOG, MIA, PDX, SDF, SJU, and SLC. I believe this is the only ATI bird flying peak for UPS.

Atlas Air

For FedEx, they've been operating B744s N473MC (white tail), N486MC, and N489MC to HNL, MEM, ONT, and SJU.

They have a large fleet of 747 and 767 freighters which are also in service (some of these flights might not be related to peak); recent alerts have been sent to spotters at ABQ, AFW, ATL, BUF, BWI, CLT, CVG, DAL, LAX, MIA, PHL, SBD, SEA, YHM, YYC, YOW, and YYJ.

Cathay Pacific Cargo

B748, B-LJK stopped at SDF.

China Airlines Cargo

Weekly 747-400 flight to SDF.

Kalitta

Some of these flight may not be related to peak; most are.

B744 N743CK, in Kalitta/DHL livery: BFI, BWI, DFW, EWR, HNL, ONT, PHL, PHX, SDF, SEA
B744 N713CK, white tail: DFW, MCO, MHR, OAK, ONT, PHL, SDF
B744's N401KZ, N403CK, N700CK, N701CK also in peak service: DFW, MCO, MHR, OAK, ORD, ONT, PHL, PHX, SBD, SDF
B763 N764CK, white tail: ATL, BOS, DFW, GSO, MEM, ORD, SAT
B734, N730CK: FAR, GSP, MSP, SDF
B722, N720CK, N724CK, N726CK, N729CK: CVG, DFW, DTW, EWR, GSP, MSY, OAK, SDF, TUS

Dillon Petrowitz

B744 / N952CAN / CR2553 (MSP-SDF). December 15, 2018

National Airlines

B744 N952CA has been flying UPS routes: GSP, MSP, PDX, SDF, SLC.

New visitor on the ramp today. Silk Way West Airlines (VQ-BVC) operated GYD>CVG. #avgeek pic.twitter.com/Ii8mF7TF07
— Tommy Lee Jr (@tommyleejr) December 18, 2018

Silk Way West

B748 VQ-BVB to SDF

Singapore Cargo

Smart alerts triggered for a handful of flights through CVG; unsure if they're recurrent peak flights or not.

Dual livery B744F. BST Logistics on one side and SkyLease Cargo on the other. #N904AR at SDF on 12/11/2018. #avgeek #planespotting pic.twitter.com/KShlmg8Ijq
— Tom Rainey (@traineyjr) December 12, 2018

SkyLease Cargo

MD11 N950AR has been flying between LAX , MEM, and SEA, presumably for FedEx.
B744 N903AR, MHR, OAK, SDF
B744 N904AR, which has different logos on each side, has been flying to SDF, MIA, MHR, OAK and ORD.

Nick Benson, JetTip.net

B744 / N579UP / UPS559 (MSP-SDF). November 14, 2018

UPS Airlines

In addition to leasing aircraft from other carriers, UPS has notably been sending their 747s to a few domestic airports that don't usually see them. Smart flight alerts have been sent for UPS B744 and B748 visits to DEN, DFW, MSP, PDX and SAT.

As extra lift comes in from other carriers, UPS is also changing fleet assignments - for example, SYR has been seeing 767s and A300s, which is unusual - and there are countless other similar examples.

Dillon Petrowitz

Western Global

Looks like quite a few members of their fleet have been flying for UPS this year. MD11s to ATL, CLE, DEN, DFW, DTW, IAH, OAK, ONT, RFD, SDF, and SLC.

One of their two 747-400's, N356KD, is also in UPS service. Noteworthy appearances at ONT, MSP, PHL, and SBD so far.

Nick Benson

Nick lives in Burnsville, Minnesota with his wife and three children. He grooves on railroad and aviation photography, politics, geography, weather, and LEGO. He started JetTip's smart flight alert service in 2017, and is now a full-time avgeek. He can frequently be found atop a step ladder at MSP's Aircraft Viewing Area.