A321 freighters continue global ramp-up

Almost four years after the first A321 freighter conversion program gained certification, EFW and 321 Precision Conversions have completed and redelivered at least forty-five units, approximately sixteen more since Cargo Facts ’ last analysis on July 28, 2023. Although EFW continues to lead redeliveries with at least thirty-two A321-200P2Fs in total, 321 Precision Conversions has doubled its footprint since July 2023, with at least thirteen A321-200PCFs redelivered. Cargo Facts’ data includes redelivered aircraft that have not been registered or placed into service with carriers, and does not account for the four GTLK A321P2Fs that were under Russian embargo and are still parked. The total also includes several A321Fs that are temporarily out of service for various reasons. Two of those were in operation with Lufthansa Cargo until Jan. 9, when the carrier detected a crack on shear plates in their rear floor structures during a routine maintenance check. Although it was widely reported at the time that the issue was structural and specific to the freighter conversion process, those reports were inaccurate, according to EFW, which clarified that the maintenance findings are unrelated to its conversion process and do not pose any unsafe conditions. The table below provides an overview of the forty-five A321-200P2Fs and -200PCFs that Cargo Facts believes EFW and 321 Precision Conversions have redelivered as of Jan. 26. A321Fs redelivered by conversion providers as of 1/26/2024 Source: Cargo Facts analysis 71% of the forty-five A321 freighters are EFW conversions. Cargo Facts expects to see more 321 Precision Conversions A321PCFs make their way to operators after the company obtained EASA certification for the type Jan. 4. New operators join the market The A321 freighter increased its presence throughout the Asia-Pacific region with AirAsia, Raya Airways, Sichuan Airlines and Spring Japan beginning to fly A321Fs in 2023. Only three of the fifteen carriers with A321Fs as of Jan. 26 operated conversions by both STC holders: Global Crossing Airlines, Raya Airways and SmartLynx Malta. SmartLynx Malta led this category with three A321-200P2Fs and seven A321-200PCFs in its fleet. While eleven operators have opted for the EFW conversion, Sichuan Airlines is the only one — for now, at least — with only the 321 Precision Conversions A321-200PCF. Despite the A321 freighter's positioning as a replacement for the 757-200F, only one carrier in the table above operated a 757-200 freighter before receiving an A321F: Raya Airways, which retired its single unit and returned it in early 2021 Global distribution The forty-five A321 freighters are distributed across thirteen jurisdictions. Source: Cargo Facts analysis While Europe continues to be the center of A321 freighter activity, Malta leads all countries with thirteen A321Fs: ten with SmartLynx Malta and three registered by Titan Airways Malta. Malaysia shot to second place with six A321Fs, with AirAsia and Raya Airways each placing three of the narrowbody freighters into service since July 2023. In the United States, Global Crossing Airlines remains the only A321 freighter operator with three registered and two more units to follow shortly. A320 family freighters have now also entered Chinese and Japanese airspace, with Sichuan Airlines beginning service with its first A321PCF in late December and Spring Japan carrying out initial test flights with Yamato Transport’s first A321-200P2F ahead of commercial launch in April 2024. MNG Airlines and BBN Airlines each had two A321-200P2Fs under Turkish registration as of Jan. 26 after becoming the first two carriers to operate the type in the country. In addition to Turkey, Germany is home to four A321 freighters, all deployed by Lufthansa. Broad age range The graph below shows the ages of all forty-five A321 freighters. The most common vintage by far is 2000 with nine units, while 2003 vintage is close behind at seven. Source: Cargo Facts analysis Overall, while vintages range from 1998 to 2012, the ages of the A321Fs are skewed toward the older end of the spectrum, with more than two-thirds produced between 1998 and 2003. Although many of the older A321s may have been acquired as conversion feedstock before or during the pandemic, Cargo Facts has observed that some lessors still prefer to convert A321s that are twenty years old or older. This is not surprising given the overwhelmingly strong passenger market and the correspondingly lucrative lease rates for serviceable A321s. Passenger operators are also holding on to their A321s for longer due to the engine issues plaguing the new-generation counterparts , lessors and engine companies have told Cargo Facts . Engine types closer to parity Based on the totals below, General Electric CFM56-powered A321 freighters account for nearly 58% of the aircraft redelivered, while IAE V2500-powered A321Fs make up the remaining 42%. Engine distribution of redelivered A321Fs as of 1/26/2024 Source: Cargo Facts analysis EFW has redelivered twenty-one CFM56-powered and eleven V2500-powered A321-200P2Fs to customers since the program was launched in 2020. Precision lately has generated momentum and, of the thirteen redelivered A321-200PCFs as of Jan. 26, eight are V2500-powered while the remaining five are supported by General Electric engines. Lessors and engine companies have told Cargo Facts they expect a roughly equal balance of CFM56- and V2500-powered A321 freighters. In what may be a sign of things to come, Cargo Facts has logged eight more of each since July 2023. As the two established A321 conversion STC holders and their products become increasingly mature and accepted, at least one more conversion provider will have begun working on its first A321F prototype by the end of 2024, with San Diego-based C Cubed Aerospace telling Cargo Facts that it will be able to dedicate more resources on the type after it wraps up its A320-200CCF . Cargo Facts EMEA 2024, the essential event for stakeholders in Europe, the Middle East and Africa, will take place Feb. 5-7 in Amsterdam. Learn more and register now.

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