[260221.EN.AIR] Air Canada Hopes To Focus On Freighter Conversions In Future

 

AIR CANADA plans to have seven freighters operating by October 2022 as cargo plays a growing role in the company's business, says president and chief executive Calin Rovinescu.

A deal announced in January will see the airline sell two passenger Boeing 767s to lessor ATSG to be converted into freighters before leasing them back, reported London's Air Cargo News.

The first aircraft will be inducted for conversion in March 2021. Both are expected to be redelivered to Air Canada.

Said deputy CEO and chief financial officer Michael Rousseau: "These [conversions] are longer process and slots are not readily available, but we are certainly working on having all seven up and running by fourth quarter next year."

Vice president and chief commercial officer Lucie Guillemette later confirmed that the carrier plans to convert a total of seven of its B767 aircraft into freighters - it had initially announced plans for two conversions in January.

By end of year 2020, over 4,000 cargo-only flights had operated using a combination of B787s, B777s as well as four B777 and three A330 aircraft with seats removed.

Source : HKSG / Photo : Curiocity.