Buffalo Airways’ McBryan on launching jet freighter ops

Cargo Facts Connect

In this episode, hear from Mikey McBryan, general manager of Buffalo Airways, which is on the cusp of launching commercial service with its first 737-300 freighter in Canada.

The 1986-vintage 737-300BDSF (23512, ex-Swiftair) that Buffalo purchased in 2022 had been in storage in the U.K. since 2017; it finally arrived in Canada last month after two years of maintenance and overhaul.

Buffalo had to install additional avionics upgrades on the aircraft once it landed in Edmonton (YEG), but the end is in sight. The carrier will soon fly unit 23512 between YEG and Yellowknife (YZF) for its affiliate courier company, Buffalo Air Express.

“I would do it all again. I could do it way more efficiently, but I wouldn’t change anything,” McBryan said. “I had so much fun and that what’s it all about at the end. Any restoration project, home reno, school — anything — it’s never about the graduation. It’s about the whole journey and I’m still in the midst of it so I know I can appreciate it.”

McBryan has hinted at plans to add more 737 Classics.

Tune in to this week’s podcast as Cargo Facts Editor Jeff Lee discusses these topics and more with McBryan.