Cargo Transport Using Passenger Planes Made Easier... Regulatory Improvements Reflecting Industry Challenges

On the morning of the 11th, cargo was loaded in the Cargo Seat Bag installed on Korean Air passenger flight KE037 departing from Incheon International Airport to Chicago, USA. [Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Chun-hee] Cargo transportation using passenger planes, which have become difficult to operate due to the spread of the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19), is expected to expand further. This is because the government has decided to actively improve the difficulties experienced by the industry during the transportation process.

The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport recently announced that it will implement additional safety operation standards from the 18th to allow cargo transportation using the cabins of passenger planes that are grounded due to the spread of COVID-19.

This measure reflects the difficulties experienced by two domestic airlines, Korean Air and Asiana Airlines, which have been transporting cargo using passenger planes under the safety operation standards implemented in April. From April to the 17th of this month, Korean Air and Asiana Airlines transported masks, protective suits, fresh food, and other items 12 times using passenger cabins. During this process, there were difficulties because there are currently not many certified flame-retardant products such as Cargo Seat Bags required for cargo transportation in the cabin, and they had to be custom-made depending on the cabin seat arrangement.

The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport prepared additional safety operation standards to resolve these difficulties by reflecting these suggestions. In the future, when transporting cargo using cabin seats, evaluations of risks that may occur during transportation and mitigation measures will be implemented, and detailed requirements have been added to allow transportation using regular boxes for cargo deemed appropriate for transport. The added detailed requirements include ▲appropriate placement of in-flight safety personnel considering aircraft type and cargo quantity for fire monitoring and response ▲additional portable fire extinguishers and other safety measures equivalent to flame-retardant requirements.

Airlines must establish and submit their own safety plans, including risk mitigation measures for transported goods, including the above requirements. Subsequently, if the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport determines that safety requirements are met during the approval stage, it will supplement safety measures to eliminate risk factors in advance, such as allowing transportation using regular boxes.

According to this measure, when airlines transport cargo on seats, the amount of cargo transported per flight is expected to increase about 3.5 times compared to loading only in the overhead bins.

Also, when airlines repeatedly transport the same items, currently, safety reviews must be conducted three days before each flight for every shipment, but from now on, from the second shipment onward, transportation will be possible by simply reporting one day before the flight without individual approval, simplifying administrative procedures.

Oh Sung-woon, Director of the Aviation Operations Division at the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, said, "With this additional measure, airlines are expected to respond more quickly and flexibly to cargo demand by actively utilizing passenger planes that are grounded due to COVID-19."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.