Lufthansa Cargo will expand its intra-European route network following the arrival of a new Airbus A321P2F (Passenger-to-Freighter), scheduled for next October. The second aircraft of this type to join the fleet of the German airline’s cargo division is currently in Singapore, undergoing conversion from its original passenger version to freighter one. It will be registered as D-AEUA.
The aircraft will offer a range of around 3.500 kilometres with a payload capacity of up to 28 tonnes, distributed over fourteen container positions on the main deck and a further ten positions on the lower deck. The conversion will include the installation of a reinforced floor, a roller system to facilitate cargo movement and a large door in the fuselage for stowage and unstowage.
Like the airline’s first and so far only A321P2F, registered as D-AEUC and named as «Hello Europe», the new aircraft will be based at Frankfurt am Main Airport (FRA), the airline’s main hub. It will be operated by Lufthansa CityLine under a wet lease agreement. Both aircraft will operate services marketed under Lufthansa Cargo flight numbers.
Following the acquisition, the company will launch cargo flights to London-Heathrow (LHR), Birmingham (BHX) and Madrid-Barajas (MAD). It will also include additional frequencies to Istanbul (IST) and Tel Aviv (TLV). The new airplane will strengthen Lufthansa Cargo’s presence at Manchester (MAN), Dublin (DUB), Malta (MLA) and Cairo (CAI), the other airports served by A321P2Fs.
Focusing on growth as e-commerce booms
Investment in the owned cargo fleet follows the sustained growth in demand for e-commerce and same-day delivery services. «The A321 freighter is a very flexible aircraft, which will enable us to build customized networks and solutions for our customers», said Ashwin Bhat, CCO of Lufthansa Cargo, about the model of increasingly popularity among operators. The company expects to take delivery of two additional A321P2F during the first half of 2023.
In early August, it had reported that it would expand its intercontinental route network from next October. It currently has eleven Boeing 777F for long-haul operations and expects to take delivery of another one in the near future. The aircraft have 27 cargo positions, for a maximum of 19.3 cubic metres each, on the main deck. There are a further ten cargo positions, for a maximum of 11.8 cubic metres, on the lower deck. The model offers a payload capacity of up to 103 tonnes and a range of up to 9.054 kilometres.
