YPSILANTI, MI: May 18, 2017. Air cargo operator Kalitta Air has taken delivery of the first of two leased 747-400F factory-built freighters from GE Capital Aviation Services (GECAS).

Last month the airline retired one of the last B747-200 aircraft still flying. Built in in 1987 for United and subsequently converted into a freighter for Northwest Airlines, it had been flying for Kalitta since 2010 as part of a fleet of 15 B747s and two B767 freighters.

According to GECAS, the leased freighter marks "a new milestone in the decade-long relationship" with Kalitta that is a major supplier of airlift to DHL, the U.S. Postal Service and U.S. military.

Founded in its present form in 2000 by owner Conrad Kalitta, the airline began with three B747 aircraft. The company provides scheduled or on-demand charter service worldwide.

"GECAS has been very supportive of Kalitta Air as we have renewed our fleet," said CEO Kalitta. "As a trusted partner, I value GECAS' focus on the air cargo sector."

In a related move, Kalitta Charters, owned by Conrad's nephew Doug Kalitta, will take delivery of its third B737-400 converted freighter from Aeronautical Engineers (AEI) in September this year.

According to AEI, it is the only conversion that offers operators 10 full height 88" x 125" container positions as a result of moving the main deck cargo door 40 inches further back to increase volume capacity by 10 percent.

Also based at Ypsilanti, Kalitta Charters operates a fleet of B737-400SF, B727-200F and DC-9F aircraft.