US carriers to begin flying with cargo on seats

[caption id="attachment_80676" align="alignright" width="400"] Alaska Air Cargo tests loading freight into the passenger cabin of an Alaska Airlines 737-900 in Seattle. Alaska is utilizing passenger jets as freighter-only aircraft to maximize critical cargo shipments of essential goods.[/caption] Some U.S.-based carriers are planning to transport cargo on seats on the main decks of passenger airplanes soon, following the Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA) decision last week to partially grant an exemption allowing for the practice. Alaska and Delta airlines both confirmed in mid-May to Air Cargo World that they were seeking FAA approval for such operations, which are already common overseas with approvals from governing bodies like the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA). Following the FAA’s response, Alaska Air Cargo said it had received FAA guidance and will “begin moving cargo shipments in select parts of the cabin starting soon, while reviewing the FAA’s temporary exemption for domestic carriers.” Delta likewise said it plans to apply for authorization to carry goods on seats for its cargo-only flights. Other carriers highlighted the difficult business case to be made for pursuing such operations. A spokesperson for Southwest Airlines said the carrier is still moving cargo in its cargo compartments and doesn’t “have any current plans to apply for the in-cabin approvals.” Meanwhile, a spokesperson for American Airlines said the decision of whether to carry cargo on the main deck is evaluated on a case-by-case basis as the transport introduces new complications to the process. Some difficulties include: The increased time needed to load the passenger cabin, which increases overall cargo load time; The type of cargo involved, as there are size and weight limits for main-deck cargo related to the doors and cabin configuration, and limitations on types of cargo, like dangerous goods; and Additional crew needed to manage in-cabin cargo. EASA issued updated guidance for European carriers moving cargo on passenger aircraft main decks in early April, but U.S. regulators have been slower to respond. U.S. carriers worked with industry lobbying group Airlines for America (A4A), which petitioned the FAA for updated guidance in an April 23 letter requesting exemptions for cargo transport on seats of passenger aircraft for two years. In its May 20 response, the FAA granted partial exemptions allowing operators to transport cargo on passenger seats, so long as the operators comply with certain conditions and limitations related to restraint and loading of cargo, fire risk and hazard mitigation, and crewmember training. More complete information is available in the FAA guidance . Although the A4A requested an exemption for two years, the FAA said it would grant a partial exemption through Dec. 31, 2020, as “in the FAA’s judgment too much uncertainty exists in the present situation about how circumstances might evolve over that lengthy a period.” The regulatory body further said that the FAA will grant the partial requested relief to A4A members conducting the relevant business operations, so long as “each affected certificate holder ... submit[s] to the FAA a request to use this exemption and affirm its intentions to comply with the conditions and limitations of this exemption.” A4A members include Alaska Airlines, American Airlines, Atlas Air, Delta Air Lines, FedEx, Hawaiian Airlines, JetBlue Airways, Southwest Airlines, United and UPS, with Air Canada as an associate member.

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