Can a passenger airliner run as a freighter with today’s tariffs? Part 2.

By Bjorn Fehrm

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Introduction

April 9, 2020, © Leeham News: Monday, we started looking at using a passenger airliner as a freighter, now that passenger aircraft are grounded in many countries because of COVID-19 lockdowns.

We examined the main cargo routes and how much of the freight capacity that went missing when airliners didn’t bring along belly cargo when flying their schedules. We also looked at the volatile freight prices, on the up since the lower airliner hold capacity went missing.

Now we see if flying passenger aircraft as freighters makes sense outside emergency medical supply flights. Can you fly the plane as is, or do you need to take out seats or add seat freight bags to make it worthwhile?

Summary:
  • The air freight prices have increased further since last week and fuel prices are at an all-time low.
  • With the present fuel and freight prices, it makes sense to fly passenger airliners as belly freighters.

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