US passenger carrier eastern Airlines is to add on more cargo capacity into the market next year, following its decision to semi-convert 33 passenger 777s, according to London's Loadstar.
Following supplemental type certificate (STC) approval, the first two aircraft, already undergoing conversion at the carrier's sister maintenance facility in Kansas, should be operational by January, with a further aircraft each month arriving at the carrier up to August. The rest will be arriving in due course, said the carrier.
'We would rather have hit the peak season, but we see the current demand continuing into 2022,' said CEO Steve Harfst.
It's a bold move, but one which should see Eastern beat rivals to additional capacity. It has had freighter ambitions for some time, but despite having two 767s ripe for conversion, the earliest date available at a 767-conversion facility is the end of next year.
'It was not immediate enough for us, in the current market,' explained Mr Harfst.
However, the carrier's proprietor, Kenneth Woolley, who also owns aircraft lessor KMW Leasing, found tens of 777s parked in the desert, offering the airline an opportunity.
'They were great conversion candidates, but the only 777-300ER conversion programme, Israel Aerospace Industries, has no availability until 2023,' explained Mike Duggan, Eastern's director of international cargo business development. 'So, we decided to do our own conversions.
'We realised we didn't need the freighters to be able to carry horses, or cars, or other maindeck cargo. We needed them to be able to carry e-commerce and express; volumetric lightweight shipments that don't need a cargo door or reinforced floor,' Mr Duggan said.
The aircraft will be converted in three stages, with a small cargo door coming in the final stage, in early to mid-2023. In the meantime, the aircraft will have the galleys and toilets removed, and a smoke barrier installed. 'It's relatively easy to do,' said Mr Duggan, 'and the first stage can be completed next year.'
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Following supplemental type certificate (STC) approval, the first two aircraft, already undergoing conversion at the carrier's sister maintenance facility in Kansas, should be operational by January, with a further aircraft each month arriving at the carrier up to August. The rest will be arriving in due course, said the carrier.
'We would rather have hit the peak season, but we see the current demand continuing into 2022,' said CEO Steve Harfst.
It's a bold move, but one which should see Eastern beat rivals to additional capacity. It has had freighter ambitions for some time, but despite having two 767s ripe for conversion, the earliest date available at a 767-conversion facility is the end of next year.
'It was not immediate enough for us, in the current market,' explained Mr Harfst.
However, the carrier's proprietor, Kenneth Woolley, who also owns aircraft lessor KMW Leasing, found tens of 777s parked in the desert, offering the airline an opportunity.
'They were great conversion candidates, but the only 777-300ER conversion programme, Israel Aerospace Industries, has no availability until 2023,' explained Mike Duggan, Eastern's director of international cargo business development. 'So, we decided to do our own conversions.
'We realised we didn't need the freighters to be able to carry horses, or cars, or other maindeck cargo. We needed them to be able to carry e-commerce and express; volumetric lightweight shipments that don't need a cargo door or reinforced floor,' Mr Duggan said.
The aircraft will be converted in three stages, with a small cargo door coming in the final stage, in early to mid-2023. In the meantime, the aircraft will have the galleys and toilets removed, and a smoke barrier installed. 'It's relatively easy to do,' said Mr Duggan, 'and the first stage can be completed next year.'
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