Qantas to add A321P2Fs, but from whom?

Australian carrier Qantas will introduce up to three passenger-to-freighter converted A321s to its fleet, as part of an expanded seven-year agreement signed with Australia Post [FATs 005092-5093 ]. With the first aircraft entering into service in October 2020, the A321P2Fs will be flying exclusively for Australia Post, which has had an airmail agreement with Qantas since 1922. There are currently two A321-200 passenger-to-freighter conversion programs that have already inducted an aircraft and cut metal: 321 Precision Conversions , a joint venture between Precision Aircraft Solutions and Air Transport Services Group ( ATSG ), and Elbe Flugzeugwerke ( EFW ), a 55/45 JV between ST Engineering Aerospace and Airbus . But which program will redeliver the first A321-200P2F freighter? Although Qantas did not go into detail regarding how it will source conversion feedstock, or which companies will be involved in redelivering the carrier’s first A321P2F, the carrier boldly stated that it would be the first airline to operate the A321P2F. Cargo Facts believes Luxembourg-based Vallair will lease at least one EFW-converted A321-200P2F to Qantas, and likely the other two as well, though the lessor and conversion house both declined to comment. In February of this year, Vallair began advertising A321-200Fs converted by both companies as available in the first quarter of 2020 . Given that Vallair is the launch customer for both programs, and because Qantas expects it will take the first freighter-converted A321, the lessor’s involvement in supplying Qantas with an A321F is almost certain. Vallair currently has two A321-200s in conversion, one each with EFW and 321 Precision Conversions. One of the A321-200s (891, ex-FlyCAA) was acquired by Vallair from AerCap in August 2017 and is in conversion with 321 Precision Conversions at Orlando Sanford International (SFB). A second (835, ex-Onur Air) is in conversion with EFW at Singapore’s Seletar (XSP) facility. Expected redeliveries for the conformity aircraft will depend on when regulators issue STCs for the programs. Previously, both conversion programs have announced expected program certification by 1Q 2020, though ATSG told investors last week, “The target is to have the STC approved by the end of the second quarter of next year.” EFW, for its part, still anticipates an STC in Q419, and for now, at least, appears likely to receive an STC ahead of 321 Precision Conversions. Returning to the Qantas deal, social media posts from a source familiar with the deal linked the Australian carrier to Vallair, ST Engineering Aerospace and EFW-converted A321s. This likely means that 835, currently undergoing conversion in Seletar, will end up operating in the Qantas Freight fleet. Separately, Cargo Facts believes that while the carrier intends to add a total of three A321-200P2Fs, only the order for the first unit has been firmed up. As for the other two, final sign-offs are expected shortly. Qantas expects each A321P2F to be capable of carrying nine tonnes more than the four 737-300SFs (23478, 23486, 23488 and 23490) and one 737-400SF (24796) it currently has, operated by wholly owned subsidiary Express Freighters Australia, which also operates a single 767-300F (33510, ex-ANA) and will operate the A321P2Fs for Qantas. Although neither Qantas nor Express Freighters currently operate any A320 family aircraft, we note that fellow Qantas-affiliate Jetstar Airways operates eight A321s and fifty-two A320s. Qantas previously confirmed to Cargo Facts that the older of its 737-300SFs “will start to be replaced over the coming two to three years,” but didn’t specify which types were being considered. Even though Qantas didn’t say whether any 737s would be removed once the A321s start arriving, we wouldn’t be surprised if the carrier uses the agreement to seriously evaluate renewing its freighter fleet entirely with A321P2Fs. Apart from Vallair, San Francisco-based lessor BBAM recently signed a letter of intent with EFW for one A321P2F at the Paris Air Show [ FAT 005020 ]. Cargo Facts learned last month that that frame will be leased to U.K.-based Titan Airways by the end of 2020. Separately, California-based C3 Aerospace and Washington-based Sine Draco also appear to be working on A320/A321 P-to-F programs of their own, but neither has secured a launch customer to date.

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