Airbus A300-600 ASL Airlines Ireland
Registration: EI-LDC Type: A300F4-605R Engines: 2 × GE CF6-80C2A5F Serial Number: 857 First flight: Aug 20, 2004
ASL Airlines Ireland was originally founded as Air Bridge and began operations in 1972 at the East Midlands Airport in the UK. In September 1992, the company rebranded as Hunting Cargo Airlines, and by 1997, all operations were relocated to Ireland. Over the following years, the airline underwent several name changes, with one of its most well-known identities being Air Contractors, before adopting its current name—ASL Airlines Ireland—in 2015. By then, it had become part of ASL Aviation Holdings. The acronym ASL (Airlines, Support, and Leasing) reflects the group’s three core areas of activity: air transport, maintenance, and leasing.
The fleet of ASL Airlines Ireland is relatively small but highly functional. It includes cargo aircraft such as the Boeing 737-800BCF (Boeing Converted Freighter), ATR 72-600F, and the star of our poster—the Airbus A300-600F.
Historically, the airline began operating the Airbus A300 back when it was still known as Air Contractors. In 2009, the company introduced the Airbus A300B4 into service. Thirteen aircraft of this type were deployed for the international express cargo delivery company DHL in the EMEA region (Europe, Middle East, and Africa). Later, the focus shifted to more modern models like the A300-600F, which offer improved performance, greater payload capacity, and a longer range (over 4,000 nautical miles), making them ideal for regional cargo routes across Europe.
In 2024, the airline’s fleet expanded with the addition of five Airbus A300-600F aircraft, previously operated by Air Hong Kong (a subsidiary of Cathay Pacific). These planes were retired from service due to the discontinuation of technical support for this type in Asia, prompted by a shrinking number of A300 operators in the region.
Notably, back in 2012, ASL Airlines Ireland began operating the A300-600F for cargo services on behalf of Air Hong Kong, with bases in Hong Kong and Penang. This demonstrates the company’s prior experience with this aircraft type well before its full integration into the European fleet. The transition to the A300-600F in Europe, starting in 2023, was part of DHL’s strategy to relocate its A300 aircraft from Asia to Europe. ASL Airlines Ireland emerged as one of the operators taking on this role.
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