Qantas New Airbus A330 P2F Lands in Melbourne After Makeover

MELBOURNE- The most recent Airbus A330, converted into a freighter by Qantas (QF), landed in Melbourne (MEL) on Sunday after completing its refurbishment.

VH-EBE concluded its final commercial passenger flight in February of this year before undergoing the transformation process in Dresden, Germany, to convert it from a passenger aircraft to a freighter (P2F).

Photo: Christian Junker | Photography

Qantas New A330 P2F

The Flying Kangaroo is channeling investments into its freighter division following a remarkable performance in the first half of FY22. This success is attributed to heightened demand for e-commerce, increased international yields due to supply chain disruptions, and reduced capacity on passenger flights.

The aircraft, named Kangaroo Valley, which is 16 years old, embarked on its journey from Dresden on December 19 as flight QF7532. It arrived in Australia at 10:06 on Sunday after a stopover in Busan, South Korea.

This marks the second widebody aircraft from the Flying Kangaroo recently converted into an A330P2F, with the first one joining the dedicated Australia Post freight fleet in October.

The transformation was executed by EFW, a specialized joint venture involving Airbus and ST Engineering.

The comprehensive modifications encompassed the removal of the entire cabin, including seats, galleys, and toilets.

The process also involved replacing the existing cabin door with a larger freight door and integrating a cargo handling system. Following the conversion, the aircraft can now transport up to 50 tonnes of freight on each flight.

In February, Catriona Larritt, the then-executive manager of freight at Qantas, stated, “Kangaroo Valley has served us well by safely transporting millions of passengers around Australia, Asia, and the Pacific for 15 years. In its new role as a dedicated freighter, it will transport a variety of goods, ranging from fresh flowers and live seafood to numerous e-commerce parcels and packages.”

Photo: Qantas

Strengthening Freighter Fleet

In addition to the A330s, Qantas intends to introduce nine new A321 P2Fs, bringing its total fleet to 12.

The comprehensive upgrade of freighter aircraft by the Flying Kangaroo is a key component of a broader fleet renewal initiative that encompasses both domestic and international aircraft.

On the international front, Qantas is set to receive 12 new Boeing 787 Dreamliners and 12 Airbus A350s, serving as replacements for its aging A330 fleet. Additionally, there’s a separate order for 12 specially adapted A350-1000 jets to launch Project Sunrise.

For domestic operations, the airline is set to acquire 20 Airbus A321XLRs and 29 A220-300s for domestic routes, with the flexibility to purchase more. The first A220 has already arrived this month.

Notably, the subsidiary brand Jetstar (JQ) has commenced the introduction of its new fleet consisting of 38 A320neos, comprising 18 A321LRs and 20 A321XLRs, the latter being an extended-range variant.

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