Page 12 - The STAT Trade Times August 2024 for Website

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PASSENGER-TO-FREIGHTER CONVERSIONS

IS IT A GAME CHANGER

FOR THE AIR CARGO

INDUSTRY?

Passenger-to-freighter conversions are soaring,
driven by e-commerce growth and the need for
increased air cargo capacity and efficiency.

Rajarshi Chatterjee

he air cargo industry is undergo- are now flying three leased 747s on ACMI. In As cargo volumes continue to grow and
ing significant growth due to the addition, we have 11 B777 freighters, and we there's a massive delay from the OEMs
rapid expansion of e-commerce, are also looking to add two more on ACMI." (Original Equipment Manufacturers), air-
Tleading to an increased demand Sultan added that there is a waiting time of lines, including Emirates, have been con-
for freighter aircraft. Passenger-to-freighter around four to five years to purchase a new sidering passenger-to-freighter conversion
(P2F) conversions have become a popular production freighter. programmes, which have a significantly
solution to meet this demand. Airbus "We, at Emirates, are seeing that cargo shorter wait time than the delivery of new
forecasts a 4.7% annual growth rate for the volumes are continuing to grow," said production freighters.
air cargo market over the next 20 years, Sultan. Talking about factors fuelling the To cope up with the growing demand
indicating a need for approximately 2,440 growth of air cargo demands, Sultan added, for freighter aircraft, Emirates SkyCargo is
freighters, including 880 new builds. "E-commerce is a major component in planning to significantly enhance its cargo
terms of global air freight volumes." He capacity and fleet efficiency through a
What's fuelling this massive mentioned that despite uncertainties about two-pronged approach. The airline has
demand for freighter aircraft? the demand created by e-commerce, it is a ordered five new Boeing 777Fs, with de-
In a recent interview with The STAT Trade significant component in capacity require- livery scheduled between 2025 and 2026,
Times, Nadeem Sultan, Senior Vice President ment, especially in constrained markets like and will also convert 10 of its B777-300ER
of Freighters & Cargo Planning at Emirates, China and Hong Kong." passenger aircraft to freighters under
said, "The freighter fleet and the main deck Earlier this year, Atlas Air CEO Michael the Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) “The
capacity has been challenged primarily Steen also warned the industry about Big Twin” conversion programme. The
because of well-documented delays in a potential capacity shortage amid the conversion programme has been delayed,
delivery of new freighter aircraft. On aver- e-commerce boom. He mentioned that and the first aircraft in Kalitta Air livery is
age, we see a delay of four to six months. the demand for main-deck capacity is still waiting for the supplemental type
We have our orders from Boeing outstand- rising because of e-commerce, but more certificate (STC).
ing. To mitigate the impact of those delays than 120 ageing widebody freighters will The airline’s P2F conversions will take
on our growth plans and commitment, we retire soon. place at Etihad Engineering's MRO center
10 | AUGUST 2024 www.stattimes.com