Iberia joins the ranks of makeshift freighter operators

Iberia (IB, Madrid Barajas) has converted one of its A330-300s into a makeshift freighter through the removal of passenger seats, in an effort to tap into surging global demand for longhaul cargo capacity. “We’re expecting an increase in air freight demand in coming months and this in an opportunity we should try to seize. Under today’s circumstances, we must adapt better than ever to market demands, and this operation will help diversify our income streams while keeping our staff active,” Iberia’s Commercial Director Maria Jesús López Solás said. EC-LXK (msn 1426), a 7.4-year-old twinjet on dry lease from BOC Aviation, was converted at the carrier’s in-house maintenance facilities at Madrid Barajas airport. It was removed from passenger service on September 30, 2020, and resumed flying as a makeshift freighter on November 4, on the route to Los Angeles Int’l, Flightradar24 ADS-B data shows. Iberia said that throughout November, it will use the Airbus widebody to fly up to 4x weekly cargo-only services to the Californian gateway. According to the ch-aviation fleets advanced module, Iberia operates a total of eight A330-300s. Six units are active on passenger routes, mostly to the United States and Latin America, although occasionally they are also deployed on short-haul services to London Heathrow and Amsterdam Schiphol. The seventh unit now operates as a freighter, while the eighth one has been stored since October 18, 2020. Iberia does not operate any dedicated freighters. Flights will be marketed by IAG Cargo, a unit of Iberia’s parent IAG International Airlines Group which does not have its own Air Operator’s Certificate (AOC).