With Austrian Airlines extending their grounding until the end of May, the airline is making use of its wide-bodied Boeing 777 aircraft – by stripping out their seats.
Austrian Airlines Boeing 777-20ER departing Chicago O’Hare – Image, Economy Class and Beyond
The airline had ceased regular operation of its flights since 18th March, with 70 aircraft parked at Vienna Airport. However, the airline has realised as well as carrying belly cargo, it can also carry cargo in the main cabin.
As such the airline has started the necessary certification process for the temporary conversion of passenger aircraft into cargo planes. Yesterday the conversion of the first of two Boeing 777 aircraft started at Austrian Technik in Vienna.
This won’t be a total strip out – with 270 of the 306 passenger seats being stripped across all travel classes. The first aircraft OE-LPC is scheduled to be completed on April 29. The second aircraft – OE-LPA will commence its conversion on the 3rd May, with it due to being completed by 7th May
It takes time to remove the seats with 500 man-hours consumed to remove the Economy, Premium Economy and Business Class seats.
This increase cargo capacity by 35 per cent. The cargo volume that can be transported in the aircraft belly as well as in the passenger cabin will thus be increased from around 210m3 to 280m3.
In quotes
Austrian Airlines Chief Operating Officer Jens Ritter said
“The demand for cargo transportation, especially for medical protective equipment, is enormous. We are now making room for more cargo on our long-haul jets. This will bridge the time until our passenger business starts up again,”
He adds
“As soon as the demand for travel picks up again, we can convert the aircraft back into passenger planes at any time”
Exploiting the demand… like other airlines are….
There is demand there – with Austrian Airlines completing 50 cargo flights so far from Xiamen, Penang and Shanghai. 45 more flights are currently in the planning stage.
The move will allow more cargo flights to these destinations. Currently, the airline operates a daily flight to Shanghai and a regular operation to Xiamen and Penang. This move will open up flights to Beijing and Shenzen.
It also allows growth – with further destinations in China and other countries, can be examined and included on short notice.
And as airlines struggle for cash in this dark time, cargo could the way to go… until a cargo glut hits…
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An interesting development. Why the few seats remaining in the cabin? Is there an expectation revenue passengers may be onboard some of these flights along with the cargo?
Are those remaining seats in each of the classes of service?