Qantas buying 3 x A321PCF's.

[lloyd fox]

Source :SMH.

"Australia Post and Qantas have struck a $1.4 billion deal that will see the airline introduce three new Airbus freighters to its network to help meet Australia's surging demand for online shopping.

Under the agreement, Australia Post will continue to have access to Qantas' dedicated freighter airline network, along with priority access to belly space on 1500 passenger flights.

Qantas will also invest in three new Airbus A321P2F aircraft, former passenger jets which have been converted into cargo jets, which boast a holding capacity of 208 cubic metres and can ship nearly 28 tonnes.

Compared to the airlines' existing Boeing 737 cargo planes, each of these new aircraft will have an increased capacity of nine tonnes and are due to enter the fleet in October next year.

Qantas will be the first in the world to operate the popular A321 as a cargo plane, with chief executive Alan Joyce saying the expansion was essential to keep up with Australia's love for online shopping."

[Greg Hyde]

Maybe of interest

https://www.aircargonews.net/airline...321-freighter/

[Brenden S]

https://www.airfleets.net/ficheapp/plane-a321-835.htm

[Greg Hyde]

Vallair who is supplying QF with their A321P2F freighters have been acquiring A321 "feedstock" (their terminology) for the P2F conversions.

We know the first QF aircraft is 835.

Other A321s acquired for conversion are: 891, 677, 827, 974, 1017.

Some of these aircraft have been leased out whilst they await conversion.

[Greg Hyde]

First conversion revealed

https://www.jetphotos.com/photo/9579536

[Greg Hyde]

First flight post conversion

https://www.skyliner-aviation.de/vie...v2&picid=10523

Note: Winglet colour

[Brenden S]

Interesting to note that all the doors have been removed and the fuselage been reskinned.

[MarkR]

Originally Posted by Brenden S

Interesting to note that all the doors have been removed and the fuselage been reskinned.

They have removed the rear door, however the trailing wing door is still there, and have removed the door forward of the wing and replaced it with the container access door. It also looks like the forward door has in fact been moved forward presumably to stop a full load blocking it.

[Brian Wilkes]

Main Cargo door seems close to the engine as well?

[Brenden S]

The Main cargo door is close to the engines on the B737-300F as well.