Lufthansa and Airbus convert their planes into cargo transport

Lufthansa Technik and Airbus have teamed up to convert their commercial aircraft into “temporary” cargo transport, thus offering a temporary solution to their customers.

This new Supplemental Type Certificate (STC) solution will allow operators to load up to 15 tons of additional payload, in the cabins of their A330-200 and A330-300 aircraft.

The conversion consists of removing the seats, then installing a standard “PKC” pallet and nets on the main deck. This solution offers a load capacity of about 78 cubic meters on the main deck, with 12 PKC pallet positions and 18 nets.

Under the agreement, LHT owns the STC and will provide the retrofit kits for customers, while Airbus’s role as a manufacturer includes providing technical data, engineering validations, and operational calculations.

“The cooperation with Lufthansa Technik enables the smooth implementation of this temporary cargo solution. Best-in-class operating economy and cabin versatility make the A330 the perfect aircraft for cargo missions in today’s environment. With this new solution, we continue to support our Airbus customers, “said Soeren Stark, Chief Operating Officer and Account Manager at Lufthansa Technik.

 Source: Aviación al día

 

Automation of the airline industry

The airline industry has been forced to digitize and automate each of its processes, to reduce physical contact, to protect those involved, preventing the spread of covid-19, and, in turn, improve the user experience and boost efficiency.

SITA, an international telecommunications company that provides technology services to companies in the aeronautical industry, says that the fall in demand for this industry in 2020 has forced them to focus on new cost efficiencies.

“In addition to the pressure, airlines and airports had to quickly incorporate new sanitary measures, such as contactless processing of passengers and the management of health information and new protocols, including PCR tests in many destinations,” said David Lavorel, CEO of SITA Airports and Borders.

To solve these challenges, the aviation industry turned to technology and, in many cases, changed the investment priorities they had set in 2020.

In this sense, many airports and airlines are interested in investing in biometric technology, implementing automated boarding gates, and guaranteeing a check-in process without physical contact, as well as self-service baggage delivery.

“Most airlines plan to send real-time notifications to passengers directly to their mobile devices about the status of their bags, and they also plan to provide real-time baggage tracking information to staff,” SITA noted.

It is estimated that by the year 2023, all essential customer service services will be without physical contact, from reservation to arrival, including delayed baggage reporting.

 Source: Aviación 21.