Australia’s Qantas to boost freight fleet on online shopping boom

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The airline says it will add six Airbus converted freighters to replace five ageing Boeing 737s.

Australia’s Qantas Airways has unveiled plans to add six Airbus converted freighters to its domestic fleet to replace five ageing Boeing 737s and expand capacity to meet a surge in demand from online shopping. The A321 freighters will be sourced from the open market and converted from carrying passengers to cargo subject to commercial negotiations, the airline said on Monday, adding the planes were expected to arrive between early 2024 and mid-2026.

Australia’s Qantas Airways has said that it would add six Airbus SE A321 converted freighters to its domestic fleet to replace five ageing Boeing Co 737s and expand capacity to meet a surge in demand from online shopping. The A321 freighters will be sourced from the open market and converted from carrying passengers to cargo subject to commercial negotiations, the airline said, adding the planes were expected to arrive between early 2024 and mid-2026.

The freighters will join another three A321s already in the airline’s domestic cargo fleet and expand carrying capacity given the A321s can carry 23 tonnes of cargo, nine tonnes more than the 737s.

Qantas Chief Executive Alan Joyce said the airline’s freight division, which reported record first-half earnings, was one of the group’s stand out performers during the pandemic as Australians shifted to online shopping.

“While some of that shift is temporary, demand remains well-above pre-pandemic levels even with the lifting of almost all COVID-related restrictions,” he said in a statement. Singapore Technologies Engineering Ltd, a major converter of A321 passenger planes to freighters, said last week that conversion demand remained strong, with orders for the model booked through 2025.

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The shortage of passenger plane cargo-carrying capacity during the pandemic sent freight rates soaring, delayed retirements of older models like MD-11s and had lessors rushing to convert older unwanted passenger planes into carrying freight.

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Devender was born in the year when the Beatles Group was formed. He holds two master’s degrees in English Literature and Public Administration. He also has an Honors degree in English Literature and a post-graduate diploma in Corporate Communications and Public Relations. He was closely associated with the Indian State Transport Undertakings and Ministry of Transport in his role as Corporate Communications and PR specialist for over two decades handling domestic and international organizations. He ventured into business forming his own Media House, Profiles Media Network Private Limited which is now a twenty years old company. Excelling as an editor, Marketing, PR, Anchor, and Advertising specialist, he is now expertly navigating the world of social media. A widely traveled professional internationally, Devender has a deep understanding of the Air Cargo, Cargo Business, Cargo Airports, Freighters and Cargo Industry at large.