Undisclosed customer to convert A380 for cargo operations

Lufthansa Technik has secured a contract to temporarily convert one Airbus A380-800 for cargo operations. This is the first conversion of its kind, however the airline behind the conversion is not disclosed.

Emirates is the biggest operator of the Airbus A380. Photo by Ervin Eslami | AeroNewsX

Such conversions come as a result of the coronavirus outbreak, which has significantly impacted global passenger operations. Airlines such as Brussels Airlines and Austrian Airlines have suspended 100% of their regular passenger activities.

Lufthansa Technik says it has received over numerous requests for passenger to cargo aircraft conversions from over 40 different airlines. This includes the likes of Lufthansa which announced the conversion of 4 Airbus A330s last month. Now, the airline is considering converting a total of 10 Airbus A330s to what they are calling 'preighters'.

Henning Jochmann, Senior Director Aircraft Modification Base Maintenance at Lufthansa Technik said that there was 'strong interest' for such conversions, adding that the company was looking at obtaining Supplemental Type Certificate (STC) for all common aircraft types, allowing carrier's to easily convert passenger planes to auxiliary freighters.

Lufthansa Technik says it has 15 projects for different aircraft types 'already in the implementation phase'.