Lessor BBAM confirmed it is leasing two Airbus A321 P2F (passenger-to-freighter) cargo jets to Lufthansa Cargo, part of the German airline’s plans to boost capacity in Europe.
Lufthansa Cargo, a unit of Lufthansa Group, announced plans on July 7, 2021, to deploy two A321s as freight-only aircraft in Europe from the start of 2022, highlighting that eCommerce was driving freight demand within the region.
On September 7, 2021, California-based leasing company BBAM Limited Partnership (BBAM) confirmed the long-term lease of two converted Airbus A321P2F cargo aircraft with Lufthansa Cargo. Both planes will be operated by Lufthansa CityLine on flights across Europe from its base in Frankfurt, Germany.
Lufthansa Cargo’s fleet of freighters currently consists of 13 Boeing 777F aircraft, 4 of which are operated by joint venture AeroLogic, and 1 McDonnell-Douglas MD-11F.
“Partnering with BBAM on these converted freighters gives the former passenger aircraft a second life and enables us to offer our customers the much-needed additional capacity in Europe,” Dorothea von Boxberg, chief executive officer of Lufthansa Cargo, commented in the lessor’s statement.
“The A321P2F offers unique benefits, including increased cargo capacity, best-in-class economics, reduced weight, and a lower carbon footprint, providing us with a great deal of flexibility in managing freight,” she added.
The Airbus A321P2F cargo jets, converted by EFW of Germany, can carry as much as 28 metric tons of freight across the main and lower decks. The variant is the largest cargo jet in the A320 Family aircraft category.
