FLEET / ROUTES - Western Global to resume MD-11F operations this weekend

Western Global Airlines has become the second — and only remaining — MD-11F operator to fly one of the trijet freighters for the first time since the FAA grounded the type in November 2025. The 1998-vintage, CF6-powered unit 48781 operated to Columbus, Ohio (LCK), from Fort Myers, Fla
Photo: Duncan Stewart

Western Global Airlines set to change business structure

Western Global Airlines (KD, Fort Myers Southwest Florida) is planning to convert its business structure from a Florida-based Limited Liability Company (LLC) to a Delaware-based corporation.

The cargo specialist said the request to the US Department of Transportation (DOT) is pursuant to the formation of an employee stock ownership plan (ESOP) wherein staff will be partially remunerated with airline stock.

"The essential purpose of the ESOP is that employees, over time, will gain equity in their employer and a valuable retirement benefit share of Western Global stock, while the current owners will receive fair market value for a portion of their interest in the company," it said.

The airline, therefore, asked the DOT to either reissue its certificate of public convenience and necessity or transfer the existing certificates to the newly incorporated Western Global Airlines, Inc. It underlined that the organisational change would not take place unless the DOT consents to the change or reissuance of its licences.

"Western Global Airlines, Inc. will succeed to all of the assets, liabilities and business of Western Global Airlines, LLC. The airline will continue to be headquartered at the same Estero, Florida, location it has occupied for several years, and to engage in the same cargo air transportation business it has operated since beginning operations," the airline added.

Western Global Airlines hopes to complete the transfer of a minority stake to the ESOP by October 15, 2020. It did not reveal the exact stake the ESOP will take but underlined it would be "substantial but minority". It added that it was unlikely for any single employee to ever own more than 1% of the airline's stock through the ESOP.

The carrier operates two B747-400(BCF)s, one B747-400(FSCD), and fourteen MD-11(F)s.

ch aviation

WESTERN GLOBAL / MD-11F / N542KD

Ton Jochems - AMS

WESTERN GLOBAL - MD11F - N412SN

Ton Jochems - LGG

Western Global Airlines - B747-446(BCF) - N356KD

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Lax - USA

Western Global given okay for scheduled China cargo ops

Western Global Airlines (KD, Sarasota/Bradenton) has been given the greenlight to begin scheduled cargo services between the United States and China.
In its decision issued on Wednesday, June 7, the US Department of Transportation (DOT) said that in the circumstances presented, it found Western Global qualified to provide the scheduled foreign air transportation proposed in its request for exemption authority.
"Western Global has provided all-cargo charter flights between the United States and China and Hong Kong," it said. "The scheduled foreign air transportation services authorized by exemption here are not markedly different in terms of aircraft size or stage length from the carrier’s currently authorized operations under its existing certificate authority."
Western Global had earlier requested the exemption to allow it to fulfill an urgent contract for a client requiring weekly widebody cargo services to both Hong Kong Chek Lap Kok as well as unspecified points on the Chinese mainland. Until this announcement, Western Global had specialized in ACMI/charter flights conducted for and on behalf of other carriers.

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Western Global Airlines - MD-11F - N412SN

Duncan Stewart - LAX

WESTERN GLOBAL AIRLINES - MD-11F - N542KD

Duncan Stewart -LAX

Western Global adds maiden B747 freighter

Western Global Airlines (WGN, Sarasota/Bradenton) has added a maiden B747-400(F) to its fleet of eleven MD-11(F)s Skyliner Aviation has reported. 

N356KD (msn 26356), formerly N458MC with Atlas Air (5Y, New York JFK), was recently seen in service between Los Angeles Int'l and Seoul Incheon this month.

ch-aviation / Photos:Western Global

Western Global Airlines - McDonnell Douglas MD-11 - N543JN

Duncan Stewart - LAX