AeroUnion and Avianca Cargo Report Freighter Conversion Delays

AeroUnion, the cargo carrier based at Mexico City International Airport, and its investor Avianca Group, through its cargo subsidiary Avianca Cargo, have reported reduced freighter capacity in 2024. The reduction is attributed to delays in the conversion of A330-300 aircraft into freighters, according to Avianca Group’s Chief Financial Officer, Rohit Philip.

During the group’s third-quarter investor call, Philip explained that the company faced a slight decrease in freighter capacity and cargo revenues compared to the previous year. Despite this, the airline maintained similar revenue trends. “We had five older aircraft in our Mexican operation, including A300s and B767s, which have all been grounded. We are in the process of converting three A330 aircraft into freighters for that operation,” Philip stated. However, only one of these A330 freighters is currently in operation, with hopes that capacity will gradually increase as the conversion program progresses.

For the first nine months of 2024, Avianca Group reported USD 544.7 million in cargo revenues, down slightly from USD 550.6 million in the same period of 2023. This decrease in revenue reflects the challenges faced by the carrier due to the grounding of older aircraft and delays in its freighter conversion program.

AeroUnion, a key player in the group’s Mexican cargo operation, retired its last Boeing 767-200(ERBDSF) in July and its final Airbus A300-600R(F) in June. The retirement of these older aircraft is part of the carrier’s strategy to move toward a more modern and standardized fleet, which will ultimately improve operational efficiency and capacity.

The Avianca Group fleet included 163 aircraft as of the end of Q3 2024. This diverse fleet consists of a mix of narrowbody and widebody aircraft, including eight A319-100s, 79 A320-200s, 45 A320-200Ns, three A330-200s, seven A330-300(P2F)s, three A300-600Fs, 16 B787-8s, and two B767 freighters. The group’s cargo division is expected to benefit from the additional A330-300(P2F) freighters once the conversion program is fully completed.

While the conversion delays have had a short-term impact on capacity, Avianca Cargo remains focused on maintaining its position in the market by modernizing its fleet and addressing the evolving needs of the cargo sector. The group’s ongoing investment in freighter aircraft is expected to drive future growth and enhance its ability to meet increasing demand for air freight services.

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Sources: AirGuide Business airguide.info, bing.com, ch-aviation.com