Bahrain’s Texel Air takes delivery of first 737-800(BCF)

Texel Air (XLR, Bahrain Int’l) took delivery of its first B737-800(BCF) on December 19, 2021.

N851BC (msn 29985) is a 20.7-year-old aircraft formerly operated as a passenger jet by Korean Air (KE, Seoul Incheon). It was converted into a dedicated freighter at Jinan airport by Taikoo (Shandong) Aircraft Engineering Co. Ltd. (STAECO) and ferried via Dhaka to Bahrain Int’l on December 19. It has yet to be inducted to the Bahraini aircraft register.

The Gulf-based cargo specialist announced plans to add a single B737-800(BCF) by the end of 2021 in February of this year. The aircraft will join the carrier’s fleet comprising B737-300(F) and two B737-700(FC)s. Texel Air is the world’s only operator of the -700(FC) combi aircraft. The airline said previously that the -800(BCF) would be used for fleet growth rather than as a replacement for any of its existing aircraft.

The airline did not respond to ch-aviation’s query concerning the aircraft’s future Bahrain registration or its service entry plans.