While there's still some time before IndiGo formally inducts its first dedicated freighter, we got the first glimpse of the aircraft, which is currently parked at an airport in Singapore. The Indian low-cost giant decided to branch into cargo-only operations during the pandemic and could commence such flights in as little as two months.

First look

IndiGo's first cargo-only aircraft – an Airbus A321P2F (Passenger To Freighter) – was recently spotted at Seletar Airport in Singapore. The aircraft can be seen wearing the IndiGo CarGo-branded livery with a registration 9H-AMQ, which means it is currently registered in Malta.

The plane is a little under 15 years old and was first delivered to Aeroflot in 2007. Over the years, it has flown for Avion Express, Thomas Cook Airlines, and most recently, Aviaon Express Malta, which explains its 9H registration prefix as opposed to VT used in India.

First spotted by Bloomberg News, the airplane can be seen parked alongside other aircraft at Seletar Airport, which is the smaller of Singapore's two airports and is essentially used for serving private jets, some regional commercial flights, and as a hub for maintenance and repair. While there is no official announcement about when it will start flying for IndiGo, sources familiar with the developments say that the A321P2F will likely be delivered to the airline sometime in August.

Pandemic-induced shift

One of the most significant changes in aviation during the pandemic has been the shift in perception of the cargo side of the business. According to IATA, almost 60% of international cargo before COVID was carried in the bellies of passenger airplanes.

When passenger demand plunged to record lows at the peak of the pandemic, it was cargo that saved the day for most airlines. IndiGo, too, started toying with the idea of a dedicated cargo fleet pretty much around the same time, realizing the untapped potential of this market, particularly in the absence of any significant cargo players in India.

CLOSE UP ON A320neo INDIGO FUSELAGE
Photo: Airbus

In October 2020, we first learned that IndiGo's CEO Ronojoy Dutta was looking into the possibility of cargo-only operations. By April next year, the airline had announced that it was in the process of purchasing four Airbus A321s for cargo conversions.

Cargo opened up several possibilities for Indian carriers during COVID to generate revenue, with IndiGo, too, flying hundreds of cargo-only flights before deciding to go for cargo-dedicated planes. While foreign airlines still account for a significant chunk of international cargo capacity in India, major carriers like IndiGo and SpiceJet jumping into the fray could change that in the years to come.

A321P2F first flight landing
Photo: Airbus

Airbus freighter program

When it comes to freighter aircraft, whether converted or otherwise, Boeing is clearly ahead in the game with its successful models launched over the years. However, Airbus is looking to make inroads into this category as well.

The A321P2F is part of that strategy, which is being worked upon through a program involving Elbe Flugzeugwerke GmBH, the joint venture company of Singapore's ST Engineering and Airbus. It can carry 27 tonnes of cargo, nearly double the belly capacity of a standard A321.

Follow Simple Flying for all the latest aviation news.

The planemaker also offers freighter versions of its A330 airplane, but it hasn't tasted much success since its launch in 2010. However, it does have high hopes for the A350F model, which will compete with Boeing's new freighter based on the Boeing 777X and already has 29 orders and commitments from five customers.

What do you think about IndiGo's A321P2F airplane? Do let us know in the comment section below.

Source: Bloomberg