Qantas, KLM fly passenger aircraft as freighters, Lufthansa and IAG may follow

[caption id="attachment_413496" align="alignright" width="460"] KLM is now operating a 777-300ER between Amsterdam and Hong Kong for cargo only. (Photo: KLM)[/caption] [Note: Qantas has now decided to suspend all international passenger flying from the end of March until at least May 31, 2020.] As borders are severely restricted and passenger flights are cancelled around the world because of the COVID-19 pandemic, more airlines are beginning to operate empty passenger aircraft for the sole purpose of carrying cargo, with Qantas and KLM joining the list, and others, such as British Airways and Lufthansa, mulling the idea. Australian carrier Qantas told Cargo Facts that, although it will be cutting its international passenger capacity by about 90% and domestic capacity by around 60% from the end of March to the end of May, its freighter services are unaffected and the carrier will continue to transport goods on major routes. To that end, Qantas will be utilizing some domestic aircraft that would otherwise be parked on freight-only flights to make up for lost belly capacity. Qantas declined to specify which aircraft would be operated, or the routes that would see cargo-only services. We note that in addition to 737-800s, the airline also uses A330s domestically. It is likely that these widebodies would be deployed as freighters because of their larger bellies. Qantas has four 737-300BDSFs (23478, 23486, 23488 and 23490), one 737-400SF (24796) and one 767-300F (33510), all operated by wholly owned subsidiary Express Freighters Australia. Unit 23488 appears to currently be in maintenance in Singapore (XSP), having landed there Jan. 31. Since last August , Qantas has also had two 747-8Fs (37561 and 37566) being operated on an ACMI basis by Atlas Air . Meanwhile, Dutch carrier KLM, which brought forward the retirement of its remaining seven 747-400s to the end of March, is operating cargo-only flights from Amsterdam (AMS) to Hong Kong (HKG) and Seoul (ICN), according to the airline’s latest schedule. A 777-300ER is being deployed to HKG, while ICN sees a 777-200ER. KLM recently confirmed to Cargo Facts its one 747-400BCF (24066) and three 747-400Fs (33694, 33695, 33696), operated by Martinair, will remain in service. Other airlines are contemplating similar moves to make use of parked aircraft. According to German newspaper Bild, Lufthansa is looking at flying its passenger 747s as freighters to maintain supply chains into and out of Germany. Although Lufthansa currently has thirteen 747-400s and nineteen 747-8s, the carrier is specifically quoted as saying the 747-8 can carry sixty tonnes of cargo. Lufthansa Cargo also has seven 777Fs and seven MD-11Fs, but had been planning to remove all the MD-11Fs by the end of the year , with one report even suggesting they could be gone by this summer . The carrier couldn’t be reached for comment on whether that plan is still in place. IAG, parent of airlines British Airways and Iberia, is also considering flying some passenger aircraft to transport critical supplies of goods, according to Chief Executive Willie Walsh. The group does not operate freighters but has a variety of widebody aircraft it could use, including A350s, 747-400s, 777s and 787s. Qantas, KLM, Lufthansa and IAG will join a growing list of airlines that have already been flying empty passenger aircraft solely for cargo. Cathay Pacific is flying A330-300s operated by regional subsidiary Cathay Dragon, while Singapore Airlines is using 787s operated by low-cost subsidiary Scoot. Korean Air also flew emergency supplies and agricultural products on an A330-300 to Ho Chi Minh City (SGN) last week, and plans to expand the operation to Qingdao (TAO) and other cities. Delta Cargo is now offering charter flights operated by passenger mainline aircraft, and El Al Israel Airlines is reportedly considering offering its 777 and 787 aircraft for cargo use only. According to the International Air Transport Association (IATA), air cargo has been crucial in delivering medicines, medical equipment, spare parts, food and other products in order to keep global supply chains functioning, to save lives, and to support quarantine and social distancing policies implemented worldwide. IATA urged governments to take measures to ensure air cargo will be available to support the global fight against COVID-19.

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