Will express warm up to factory-built narrowbody freighters?

While FedEx has been the only operator to date to sign up for factory-built regional freighters in the 4-to-9 tonne capacity segment, the chances of a paradigm shift in the larger 10-40 tonne category currently dominated by passenger-to-freighter conversions are slim. During the MAKS 2021 event held last week in Zhukovsky, Volga-Dnepr Group said it was “ready to review” a factory freighter based on the Irkut MC-21 passenger aircraft. The MC-21 is expected to compete in the narrowbody size category, with variants accommodating 150-211 passengers. [caption id="attachment_416341" align="alignright" width="560"] Will we see a freighter version of the MC-21? (Photo/Irkut)[/caption] Although payload, range and volume characteristics for a potential MC-21 freighter were not disclosed, the cargo variant would compete against freighter-converted 737 and A320-family aircraft, which are expected to dominate the cargo market for years to come. Cargo Facts Consulting estimated in the most recent edition of its 20-Year Freighter Forecast that 100% of narrowbody freighters in the 10-to-40 tonne payload category, some 1137 units over the next two decades, will be passenger-to-freighter conversions. Justifying a new build narrowbody freighter program would require integrator interest from outside the Russian market, a source who studies freighter programs told Cargo Facts. With Boeing and Airbus freighters comprising the entirety of the jet freighter fleet in service for or on behalf of express companies, adding complexity with the addition of a Russian-built aircraft would also come as a surprise. UPS is currently the only major operator of factory-built narrowbody freighters. The integrator took delivery of seventy-five 757-200PFs from Boeing between 1987 and August 1999. More recently, Boeing offered a 737-700 in Convertible configuration with a main deck cargo configuration, but the program was met with limited success. In the smaller 4-to-9 tonne capacity feeder segment, factory-built freighters are only starting to enter the equation. In November 2017, FedEx Express introduced its preference for production freighters for its feeder operations, with orders for new-build Cessna SkyCourier 408s and ATR 72-600Fs, and has so far taken delivery of two of the latter. ATR has previously told Cargo Facts it is nearing a deal with a second customer for its ATR 72-600F. China-based COMAC launched a 10-tonne freighter variant of its ARJ21 regional jet last year when state-owned Henan Civil Aviation Development Investment Company (HNCA) firm ordered twenty-five ARJ21 freighters along with options for up to twenty-five additional units. HNCA is a major shareholder of Luxembourg-based Cargolux, and owns a controlling stake in rapidly growing China Central Longhao Airlines. The status of that deal, and the possible delivery timeline, are currently unclear. COMAC could not be reached for comment. For now, Cargo Facts Consulting expects to see a mix of new-build and freighter-converted regional freighters being introduced over the next two decades. Still, the consultancy expects the majority of 4-9-tonne regional freighters, some 338, will be passenger-to-freighter conversions, while eighty-one will be production freighters. Cargo Facts Symposium, taking place LIVE October 25-27 at the Wynn Las Vegas, is the essential event for stakeholders in the air cargo industry. Learn more and register at www.cargofactssymposium.com .

Will express warm up to factory-built narrowbody freighters?

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