Titan Aircraft Investments acquires 777Fs on lease to Ethiopian Cargo
The aircraft, identified by MSN 42033 and 42034, were acquired from Carlyle Aviation Partners.

MSN 42034 (ET-ARK) & MSN 42033 (ET-ARJ)
Titan Aircraft Investments, a joint venture between Titan Aviation Holdings and Bain Capital, has announced the acquisition of two Boeing 777 freighters, which are on lease to Ethiopian Cargo, the cargo arm of Ethiopian Airlines, to support its network expansion, according to an official release from Atlas Air.
The aircraft, identified by MSN 42033 and 42034, were acquired from Carlyle Aviation Partners, the commercial aviation investment and servicing arm of Carlyle’s Global Credit platform. Titan, a subsidiary of Atlas Air Worldwide Holdings, a leading global provider of outsourced aviation logistics, will oversee the management of these freighter assets.
The two 777 freighters, which are currently operated by Ethiopian Cargo, will bolster Titan’s fleet of modern widebody aircraft, supporting the growing global demand for long-range airfreight capacity. This acquisition underscores Titan’s commitment to supporting its customers in the air cargo and e-commerce sectors by providing dedicated and fuel-efficient aircraft for their operational needs, the release added.
According to data from Planespotters.net, the B777F with MSN 42033 is registered as ET-ARJ and is 9.5 years old. This aircraft is named ‘The Amazon’ after the Amazon River, the largest river in South America. Meanwhile, the B777F with MSN 42034 is registered as ET-ARK, with an age of 9.3 years, and is named ‘Mandela’ in honour of Nelson Mandela, the South African anti-apartheid activist, politician, first president of South Africa.
“We are excited to add these two Boeing 777 freighters to Titan’s fleet through this acquisition, which aligns with our ongoing strategy to expand our freighter portfolio and meet the increasing demand for airfreight services,” says Eamonn Forbes, Senior Vice President and Chief Commercial Officer, Titan Asset Management Ireland Limited. “The 777Fs offer superior payload capacity and fuel efficiency, which will support the evolving needs of customers, particularly across international borders and high-demand cargo routes. We are also proud to expand our strong partnership with Ethiopian Airlines by providing them with the latest generation of freighter aircraft.”
Forbes adds, “We greatly appreciate Carlyle Aviation Partners for their exceptional work on this transaction. Their professionalism, expertise, and collaborative approach were pivotal in ensuring a smooth and successful acquisition process.”
Titan and Bain Capital established Titan Aircraft Investments in 2019 as a long-term joint venture aimed at developing a diversified freighter aircraft leasing portfolio with an expected value exceeding $1 billion. This strategic partnership leverages the growing demand for cargo aircraft, driven by the booming e-commerce and express logistics markets.
Under the joint venture, in which Atlas holds a 10% ownership stake, Titan is responsible for providing aircraft and lease management services.