UPS aims to double the number of weekend charter passengers it carried last year under contract to US cruise lines, tour operators and professional sports organisations.
The carrier, better known for transporting parcels than people, is conducting charter flights with five Boeing 727-100 freighters, modified to accept a quick conversion kit for passenger flights.
The carrier says that freighters can be converted to carry 113 passengers in as little as 4h. The kit was developed by UPS, Boeing and Pemco Aeroplex, which holds the supplemental type certificate.
Many UPS aircraft only fly for 2h daily, and the charter initiative is one of several being undertaken to further make use of its assets.
UPS carried more than 54,000 passengers on 300 trips last year, despite a strike which shut down flight operations for two weeks and a four month delay in beginning the passenger service. It aims to double the number of trips this year, keeping the 727-100s flying throughout the weekend. UPS has 46 additional 727s that could be converted for passenger flights.
Flight attendants are provided by Denver's Inclusive Solutions. UPS officials say several other cargo carriers may begin similar operations using passenger-only leased aircraft.
Source: Flight International
