Since 2020, the European Union Aviation Safety Agency has issued approvals and exemptions for the transport of cargo in passenger cabins on a case-by-case basis. These were time-limited until July 31, 2022. Following a review of the operational context for the transport of cargo in the passenger cabins, the agency has concluded that the logistical challenges that arose in 2020 as a result of the COVID-19 crisis no longer exist to the same extent.
In accordance with Issue 6.0 of the Guidelines for Transport of Cargo in Passenger Compartments, the Agency has therefore determined that the exemptions delivered in this context will not be extended beyond the current validity of July 31, 2022. The same applies to existing approvals that have been granted based on the use of the Deviation on transportation of cargo in passengers compartments. This Deviation can also not be applied to any certification projects for which the approval is issued after that date.
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Temporary use of passenger planes to transport freight or ‘preighting’ has come to an end across Europe, suggesting the beginning of the recovery of the aviation industry. A temporary exemption allowing preighting was introduced during the pandemic as passenger flows dried up, and governments diverted passenger planes to transport medical equipment, masks, and PPE across the globe.
The European Air Safety Agency (EASA) has ended the exemption, now banning any preighting from July 31. This might not be all bad though, as less urgent demand for medical protection and more demand from passengers to travel indicates a promising return of normality for airlines.
During the height of the pandemic, whilst almost all long-haul operations were suspended, preighting allowed airlines to increase their cargo capacity, using passenger decks for cargo. This exemption from the ban provided a welcome stop-gap for airlines. Emirates Airlines found it profitable enough to convert several of their Airbus A380s into mini freighters, ripping out whole sections of seats so larger cargo could be transported.
However, as airlines fight to build a business again, more and more aircraft are returning to passenger-only flights. Levels of tourism alone are increasing quickly, Eurocontrol reported Ryanair is now operating with more flights than before COVID with 2,779 flights last week, a 10% increase compared with the same time period in 2019.
