Lufthansa is a major international cargo carrier, but it is adding smaller jets to shuttle packages on shorter routes around Europe.
Airbus is so pleased with its first three Airbus A321 freighter conversions that it plans to add six more of the jets.
Companies that want standard freighters from the pre-owned market are in a race to find suppliers. Raya Airways and ASL are in the door with their orders.
When planes age they become less pleasant for passengers and cost more to operate. That’s when companies like Air Transport Services Group buy them for cargo.
Lufthansa is complementing its transcontinental freighter fleet with some smaller aircraft.
SmartLynx will use the Airbus conversion center to modify a half dozen small jets for full-time cargo operations.
The new A320 passenger-to-freighter jet is ready to join its sister, the A321, on the market as the aircraft attract more interest for airlines.
Qantas and Air Canada are pioneers in swapping older passenger planes from their fleets and turning them into full-time cargo haulers.
The Airbus A321 and the A330 are the new kids on the block in converting passenger planes to cargo, in a sector dominated so far by Boeing.
Used Airbus A321s are getting a second life in the cargo arena. More companies are jumping in to do the modifications.
