AirAsia’s first dedicated freighters to begin operations in Q3

AirAsia will operate its first dedicated cargo aircraft — a Boeing 737-800 — in the third quarter of the year, as the low-cost giant doubles down on expanding in the region’s cargo market. The aircraft, operated by AirAsia logistics unit Teleport from its Bangkok hub, will join two Airbus A320s that are currently being converted to temporary freighters by having seats removed. AirAsia states that one A320 will be based in Kuala Lumpur, while the second A320 will join the 737 freighter in Bangkok. The three aircraft will operate to cities such as Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Hong Kong, Jakarta and Yangon. It is unclear where the 737-800 freighter will come from, except that it will be a leased jet. The AirAsia Group first disclosed plans to develop “a cargo-only core network” when it released its first-quarter financial results in late May. <br/>