Qantas to convert two A330s to freighters amid cargo boom

Qantas will convert two Airbus A330-200s into freighters in 2022 amid a boom in the cargo market driven by a “significant shift” towards e-commerce. The two aircraft will be converted by EFW, the Airbus-ST Engineering freighter conversion joint venture, with the first example to be inducted in August 2022, says the airline. The first converted freighter will commence operations in mid-2023, with the second to follow by end-2023. Qantas will deploy one A330-200P2F on international cargo flights, while the other will be a “new addition to the dedicated fleet” operating under Australia Post’s domestic parcel and mail business. It adds that the seat capacity from the two A330s will be replaced by “more effective scheduling” in its passenger network. “Qantas will also take delivery of three new Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners during 2022,” it states. According to Cirium fleets data, Qantas has 16 in-service A330-200s, with another two in storage. The two stored jets, registered VH-EBB and VH-EBD, were delivered to the airline in 2002 and 2003, respectively.<br/>