Freight Iberia converts first Airbus A330 into freighter

Spain´s largest airline Iberia has announced the first conversion of an Airbus A330 passenger aircraft into freighter. The conversion has been performed by Iberia MRO at Madrid. The aircraft will help Iberia to fully enter the air cargo market.

In the early stages of the pandemic, Iberia performed cargo flights with medical supplies on board and these operations prepared the carrier to adapt to the new market solution. This converted A330 will be performing four weekly cargo flights between Madrid and Los Angeles starting this month.

Iberia’s sales chief María Jesús López Solás said: “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.”

All flights will be operated on behalf of IAG Cargo, the cargo division of International Airlines Group (IAG), in which Iberia is a member airline. IAG Cargo is currently offering services on more than 500 aircraft to more than 350 destinations around the world.

The conversion of the cabin has been carried out by Iberia MRO in Madrid. The A330-300 was already undergoing an inspection in Iberia´s hangar in Madrid La Munoza, where all Economy and Premium Economy seats were removed.

After separation panels and the crew rest was removed as well, Iberia MRO reinstalled the carpeting with lights indicating 33 cargo positions. On the floor, rails were installed which will hold the netting in place to ensure a maximum of safety during operations. Iberia said that this configuration "yields additional carrying capacity of up to 105 m3 or 18,000 kg. of cargo"

Iberia was founded back in June 1927 and currently has a fleet of over 70 aircraft, including Airbus A319s, A320s, A321s, A330s, and A350 XWBS. The all-Airbus fleet has an average age of under 10 years, making it one of the most modern larger fleets in the world.

Low-Cost subsidiary airline Iberia Express was founded by the mainline carrier in March 2012 and flies with 17 Airbus A320s and seven A321s. Both Iberia and Iberia Express are member of the International Airlines Group IAG.