Page 24 - World Airnews Magazine May Edition 2021

COMMERCIAL

SUCCESS ON THE

A350 PREIGHTER

In March 2020, the Addis Ababa-based carrier made the crucial

decision to temporarily convert part of its fleet to carry cargo
carrying cargo in the cabin - transported in terms of operations, maintenance

tonnes of masks and medical products, as and efficiency, meaning that the aircraft

ome 60 percent of the world’s fleet well as industrial products and goods such as reduces its fuel burn significantly

Swas grounded in 2020 due to the mobile phones, IT equipment, and clothing. - generating savings and reducing its

effects of the Covid-19 pandemic on air In a recent communication, the company environmental impact. The aircraft has the
transport, as aviation industry estimates indicated it had “operated 5,645 cargo lowest cost per seat of its category.

show. The impact of the pandemic took a flights on the cabin of passenger aircraft A350 NAVIGATES THE STORM
and transported more than 121,750 tonnes

noticeable effect from March 2020 when of cargo across its vast global network. The Reaching high in terms of efficiency and

the number of flights dropped significantly, flights added an immense value to the total reliability, the A350 also turns out to be

as a direct consequence of the collapse in of 33,182 flights and 735,869 tonnes of highly versatile. “The cabin layout of the

passenger demand. cargo transported during the period from A350 is based on the concept of “simplicity
Most companies booked massive March 25, 2020 to March 25, 2021”. by design” where efficiency of space on

financial losses, making 2020 the worst board the aircraft is a key factor”, said

year in the aviation industry financially ALL ETHIOPIAN A350-900 KEPT Mikail Houari, president Airbus Africa

speaking. Interestingly, Ethiopian Airlines FLYING Middle East. “The 221-inch cross-section,

was among those which remained “cash Not surprisingly, Ethiopian used its entire the straight sidewalls from floor to ceiling,

positive” during this period. A350-900 fleet for cargo operations. Seven the unequalled height of the ceiling and the

CARGO BOOST TO OPERATIONS out of its 16 extra-wide body aircraft have reduced tapering offer an unequalled space
to load parcels. Designed at the origin to
been converted to freighters by removing
March 2020 is precisely the month when all economy seats. The other nine are used improve the comfort of the passengers, the

Ethiopian started to operate its first either for passengers or for cargo loaded on fully flat, horizontal floor and the recessed

cargo-only service on a passenger aircraft. the economy seats. As a result, all Ethiopian rails are particularly practical when the

The Addis Ababa-based carrier made the A350-900 have kept flying during the period. aircraft is in cargo configuration”.

crucial decision to temporarily convert The East African carrier has fully For all these reasons, the A350-900 has
part of its fleet to carry cargo rather than benefited from the extraordinary been instrumental in the airline’s strategy

passengers. Since then, the company has capability of the Airbus aircraft to fly with to navigate the storm. “Let me express

boosted its capacity on cargo operations. an operational reliability of 99.5 percent. my admiration for Ethiopian Airlines’

This remarkable agility at all levels of the Incorporating advances in flight controls, remarkable achievement during this

company enabled Ethiopian to meet the systems, and wing design, the A350-900 unprecedented pandemic. Let me also
cargo demand which was increasing at that is a truly state-of-the-art aircraft. These voice my pride to see the A350 playing a

time. Its “preighters” - passenger aircraft developments have a genuine impact critical role in this success”, said Mikail. Q
World Airnews | May 2021
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