TWO OF AIRBUS Industrie's long-haul customers are using their aircraft to fly pure-freight services.
Cathay Pacific has found the A330 and A340 sufficiently efficient to operate as lower-deck-only freighters once their day-time passenger duties are completed, and Aer Lingus says that it converts one of its three A330-300s to a main-deck freighter during its passenger low-season.
Cathay flying-training manager for Airbus types, John Bent, says that the airline began the operation when it first received its A340s and was using them only for training and in the Pacific.
The airline was able to secure a contract from express-package specialist DHL, as well as standard freight deals, so that it could operate services to Singapore and Bangkok three times a week.
Bent says that loads have been from 1-25t, but the service was easily profitable. The airline tried to find passenger interest, but the 23.00 departure time was unacceptable.
Since receiving its A330s, Cathay has switched the A340s to European services, as originally planned, but now uses the A330 for the same freight runs.
Bent says that the lack of air-traffic-control restrictions at night mean that the maximum ceiling of FL410 is nearly always available, resulting in exceptionally efficient performance. Fuel consumption, he says, is sometimes around 4.5t/h.
Aer Lingus confirms that "...one of the A330's attractions was its cargo-friendliness". The airline says, that its A330s, which are operated almost exclusively on its transatlantic services, carry 15,000t lower-deck cargo a year - half the entire airline's annual freight business.
Source: Flight International
