Qantas Freight, the cargo division of Australia’s largest airline, will add another six Airbus A321 freighter to meet the demand from the growing e-commerce market, the company said in a statement yesterday.
The aircraft will be acquired on the open market and then converted from their original passenger-carrying version to their cargo-carrying configuration. In this way, Qantas Freight reinforces its commitment to the type and consolidates its position as one of the operators opting for converted aircraft in the face of sustained growth in the airfreight market.
The six Airbus A321P2F (Passenger-to-Freighter) aircraft will have the capacity to carry up to 23 tonnes of cargo, nine more than the Boeing 737-300 and 737-400 it currently operates. The company said the new aircraft will bring greater operational efficiency, with up to a 30% improvement in terms of fuel burn per tonne carried.
Deliveries are expected to begin in early 2024 and continue until mid-2026. The aircraft will replace the four 737-300 and the only 737-400 that are part of the current fleet.
“Qantas Freight plays a vital role in Australia’s supply chain and this investment will grow our operations so they can support increased demand for next-day delivery”, said Alan Joyce, Qantas Group CEO. “This is one of the largest ever investments in our domestic freight fleet”, he added, commenting that the additions will boost revenue against a backdrop of good prospects for the air freight market.
First operator of the Airbus A321P2F
Qantas Freight was the launch customer for the Airbus A321P2F. Months after completing its first flight in January 2020, the aircraft with manufacturer’s serial number (MSN) 835 joined the Australian company’s fleet. It had last operated for Turkish airline Onur Air.
The company currently operates three aircraft of this type. “The first three A321P2F have been a fantastic addition to our fleet and operating a single-type of narrow body aircraft in the future will enable us to generate further operational efficiencies and significantly reduce emissions per tonne of freight flown”, Joyce commented.
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