Air Astana may add 767Fs with new cargo division

[caption id="attachment_413929" align="alignright" width="460"] Air Astana has now reconfigured the first of three 767-300ERs for cargo-only operations. (Photo: Air Astana)[/caption] Kazakhstan-based Air Astana has set up its own dedicated air cargo division and could become a freighter operator with converted 767-300Fs. According to the carrier, the decision was prompted by the recent boost in regional demand and a review of the strategy for the fleet after the COVID-19 crisis. While Air Astana had already been operating its three 767-300ERs for cargo-only flights by utilizing the seats for cargo, the airline has decided to remove almost all the seats from the cabins from the three aircraft to maximize their volume. Zhanna Shayakhmetova, managing director of Air Astana Cargo, told Cargo Facts the first 767 underwent the reconfiguration at the airline’s own technical facility in Almaty (ALA), and the second will be reconfigured in July. The timing of the third aircraft’s reconfiguration has yet to be determined. Shayakhmetova said Air Astana will be flying the 767s for cargo “for the foreseeable future,” and not only for lightweight medical supplies. However, the temporary passenger-freighter configuration does not feature a large cargo door, reinforced floors or a cargo-loading system. Shayakhmetova said the carrier is considering potentially putting the 767s through full-freighter conversion, but that decision won’t be made until the end of July. Air Astana’s three 767-300ERs (42220, 42221 and 42223) were all delivered new from Boeing in 2013 and 2014. If converted, they would be among the youngest converted freighters and will have a long life ahead of them, enabling the carrier to take advantage of Kazakhstan’s location in Central Asia and expand its presence in the cargo market. Between the two options Air Astana can turn to for 767-300 conversions, Boeing will likely be able to redeliver a fully converted 767-300F sooner than Israel Aerospace Industries ( IAI ), given IAI’s much larger backlog. While Air Astana also has four leased 757-200s, Shayakhmetova told Cargo Facts the pandemic has accelerated their permanent withdrawal as new deliveries of A321neos continue to arrive. The carrier has no plans to convert the 757s into freighters. Having consolidated the passenger fleet to just narrowbodies without significant belly capacity, Cargo Facts wouldn’t be surprised to see Air Astana proceed with full-freighter conversions of some or all of its 767-300ERs.

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Air Astana may add 767Fs with new cargo division

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SF Airlines continues fleet growth

China Southern takes two 777Fs amid capacity crunch

Related Posts

Listen: Will we finally find out what’s next for widebody freighters?

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