Asiana also converts one A350-900 into a cargo plane... Increasing air cargo supply

B777-200ER Second Unit Also Expands Passenger Aircraft Lower Space to Increase Load Capacity by 2 Tons Each

The latest mid-to-large aircraft A350.

[Asia Economy Reporter Yu Je-hoon] Asiana Airlines is strengthening its air cargo business, which has emerged as a key revenue source in the era of the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19), by modifying its passenger aircraft such as the A350 and B777.

Asiana Airlines announced on the 24th that it removed some seats from one of its A350-900 aircraft and deployed it on cargo routes. It is the second Korean carrier, after Korean Air, to convert a passenger aircraft for cargo loading.

According to Asiana Airlines, the modified A350-900 had 283 seats removed to create cargo loading space. Pallets were installed on the cabin floor to ensure safety. With this modification, the aircraft can carry an additional 5 tons of cargo, transporting a total of 23 tons per flight. Asiana Airlines' total cargo aircraft capacity also increased from 1,152 tons to 1,175 tons.

This aircraft was first deployed on the Incheon?Los Angeles (LA) route on the same day, carrying about 20 tons of IT and electronic products, e-commerce exports, clothing, and other goods. Asiana Airlines plans to continue cargo transport mainly on high-demand routes such as Incheon?Ho Chi Minh starting next month.

This modification is the first case of converting an A350 passenger aircraft into a cargo plane. Asiana Airlines explained that the process was carried out through close consultation with the manufacturer, Airbus, from the preparation stage.

Additionally, Asiana Airlines separated the bunk spaces located under two existing B777-200ER passenger aircraft to expand the belly cargo space. This increased their cargo capacity by 2 tons each.

Asiana Airlines' conversion of passenger aircraft into dedicated cargo planes is due to the significant improvement in profitability of the air cargo market amid the recent COVID-19 situation. The supply of belly cargo, which accounts for a large portion of international air cargo, sharply declined due to massive flight suspensions caused by COVID-19, maintaining freight rates at higher levels compared to previous years. Asiana Airlines also posted a surprising operating profit of 115.1 billion KRW in the second quarter due to this effect.

An industry insider said, "Although global airlines have recently increased cargo supply, it is still significantly insufficient compared to demand," adding, "The fourth quarter is the traditional peak season for the air cargo business, so favorable conditions are expected to continue for the time being."

Kim Kwang-seok, Head of Cargo Division at Asiana Airlines, stated, "We reviewed the modification of passenger aircraft after thorough prior examination of safety assurance and profitability improvement," and added, "Since cargo sales have become an important part of the company's operations amid the COVID-19 situation, we will responsibly pursue multifaceted efforts."

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