Eastern Airlines enters air cargo market with ‘freighter-light’ model

Friday, September 03, 2021 at 03:00 PM ET

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Eastern Airlines currently operates a fleet of 10 Boeing 767s. It has acquired a large number of Boeing 777s it plans to fly for dedicated cargo customers. Courtesy Eastern Airlines

Key Takeaways:

Eastern Airlines is launching an air cargo operation with a unique "freighter light" model, focusing on stripped-out Boeing 777 passenger jets rather than traditional full freighter conversions.
This strategy involves acquiring 35 Boeing 777s to carry low-density e-commerce and express delivery freight, such as apparel and electronics, with service set to begin in Q1 2022.
The airline aims to provide significant cargo volume and potentially lower unit costs by operating these semi-converted aircraft under ACMI leases.
While offering high capacity for light goods, the model faces challenges concerning the inefficiency and increased labor costs associated with manual loading through passenger doors compared to dedicated freighters.