Air China once operated 13 Boeing 757-200s. The aircraft were already 12 years old when arriving with the carrier following its merger with China Southwest Airlines. As such, Air China began phasing the jets out only ten years after they joined the fleet. Let's pick up their trail and see what became of them next.

Air China and Boeing

Air China is an equal opportunity aircraft operator. The flag carrier's fleet consists of several models of both Boeing and Airbus planes. It currently also has seven homegrown COMAC ARJ21-700 regional jets, deliveries of an order for 35 of the aircraft having begun in June 2020.

When it comes to Boeing planes, Air China has operated the 767-300, as well as the jumbojet variants 747-200, -400, -8, and SP. Other Boeing widebodies that wear or have worn the Air China livery are the 777-200 and -300, and the 787-9 Dreamliner.

Boeing narrowbodies in the fleet have included the 707, the 737-200, -300, -600, -700, and -800, as well as the 737 MAX 8. The latter three versions of the 737 are still with the airline. However, the MAX remains parked following China's plans for recertification of the model early this month.

Meanwhile, once upon a time, Air China, which currently has 461 planes in its fleet, operated 13 Boeing 757-200s. They were delivered to the carrier between January 2003 and November 2004, arriving from the merger with China Southwest Airlines.

This meant they were already around 12 years old when delivered. As such, the airline began transitioning away from 757 operations in April 2010. The final 757 left the fleet in May 2015. But where did they go, and what has happened to them since?

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Passenger-to-freighter conversions

All of Air China's 757s have been converted to cargo carriers and transitioned to owners specializing in airfreight. Most have remained in China, with one exception. Over half of them - eight to be precise - went to a cargo carrier called SF Airlines (also known as Shunfeng Airlines).

SF Airlines has its base at Shenzen Bao'an International Airport in the Guangdong province, linking Hong Kong to mainland China. It is an all-Boeing cargo specialist operating a fleet of 66 converted Boeing 737s, 757s, 767s, and two 747-400Fs. Put together, the aircraft operated by SF Airlines have an average age of 23.5 years.

Four of Air China's 757s stayed within the same airline group after their conversion to freighters. They are still in operation with Air China Cargo. These are the only 757s in the airfreight operator's fleet, which also consists of three 747-400s and eight 777Fs.

All widebodies but one of the 747s were delivered straight from Boeing's Everett facilities. The freighter jumbo jets are about 16 years of age, whereas the Triple Sevens are just over seven. Meanwhile, the 757s are now 25.5 years old, which brings the average age for the Air China Cargo fleet up significantly to 14.6 years.

Odd one out

Only one of Air China's inherited 757-200s relocated to a different country after exiting the carrier's fleet. It transferred to Florida-based cargo specialist National Airlines in 2010. However, it was stored at Roswell as soon as 2012.

Since February 2021, the aircraft, by now nearly 28 years old, belongs to International Air Response. The operator specializes in aerial emergency response services but also provides planes and crew for filming operations.

Did you ever fly on an Air China 757? Leave a comment below and share your experience.