In the past year, the Boeing 737-800 Freighter fleet has doubled from 59 aircraft in 2021 to 113 aircraft in 2022. The infamous aircraft type typically flies with commercial passenger airlines such as Irish airline Ryanair and American airline Southwest but has also become a freighter since then.

The type was not the only aircraft to double in size. Airbus' A321F doubled too. "The A321 freighter fleet has doubled from four to eight aircraft over the past year while the size of the A330 (-200 and -300) fleet has also increased from 10 to 16", said aviation consultant IBA Aviation.

A shift in demand

Airfreight and cargo operations have kept the industry alive as the global aviation sector was hit hard by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Never before in the history of aviation has flying cargo been more critical.

Many airlines worldwide have switched their operations from flying passengers to flying cargo. In Hong Kong, Cathay Pacific's cargo operations continue to save the day and keep the airline in the skies. In 2020, the Irish airline Aer Lingus faced low passenger numbers and started flying regular routes between Dublin and Beijing on cargo flights.

The growth of the aircraft conversions is shown by the increase in the number of conversion centers. Fifteen facilities were opened dedicated to the conversions of the 737-800F, with nine facilities for the A321 and six for the A330.

E-commerce is now a trillion-dollar industry. More and more people are ordering packages online and expect them to be delivered the next day. Amazon Air even converted the Boeing 737-800 freighter and is one of the biggest customers of this type.

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The perfect plane

Boeing describes the B737-800BCF as perfect for regional cargo operations. According to Boeing, the type can fly from New York to Houston, Texas. The low operating cost of the 737-800 means that the type is highly profitable.

The program was launched in 2016 and has become a significant success. According to ch-aviation.com, ASL Airlines is the biggest customer of the 737BCF.

The 737 is not the only aircraft that Boeing converts into a freighter. The 767F and the 777F are probably the most popular freighters out there. The 767F and the 777F are used by airlines like DHL and FedEx. These two logistics airlines play a considerable part in the cargo aviation industry.

The future of cargo operations

According to another report by the aviation analyst IBA, the recent airspace closure in Russia and Ukraine will undoubtedly significantly impact the global cargo sector.

Airlines have to reroute around airspace, which means more fuel consumption, increased flight times, and less cargo being transported. Alongside this, the invasion of Ukraine by Russia means that oil prices are sky-high. This increase translates to a rise in aviation jet fuel.

The future of cargo operations seems to be an interesting one. However, both Boeing and Airbus are staying competitive in the market. The report by IBA shows that with the doubling in the number of conversions, both companies will be eager to manufacture a better aircraft for the future.

What are your thoughts on the doubling of the 737-800F? Have you been on a freighter? Let us know in the comments below.

Source: The Stat Trade Times