Global Crossing Airlines Group (GlobalX) has signed of a multiple-year charter agreement for its first Airbus A321 Passenger-to-Freighter (P2F) to an affiliate of Avianca Cargo to support its North American and Latin America cargo programs.
As a fundamental part of its growth and strengthening plan, Avianca Cargo announces the incorporation of 2 and up to 4 freighter aircraft that will expand its capacity by up to 70% between 2022 and 2024.
With the arrival of the A330 P2F aircraft (passenger aircraft converted into freighter), which will progressively be incorporated into the cargo fleet, Avianca Cargo will boost its relevance in the region by increasing capacity in the Colombian and Ecuadorian export markets, and in the import markets to South America from the United States.
These actions are part of the airline’s strategic plan and its commitment to strengthen direct connections between North America and Latin America.
The aircraft, which marks the beginning of the company’s XCargo division, is the first of thirteen firm agreements with lessors, as well as seven additional commitments to acquire and convert Airbus A321s in its P2F program.
GlobalX intends to bring all of these future converted aircraft to market between October 2022 and the end of calendar year 2024. Terms of the agreement allow Avianca Cargo to wet lease or charter up to four additional freighters from GlobalX over the next five years. The aircraft will be the first A321 Freighter to be operated by a US airline.
Said Ed Wegel, Chair and CEO of GlobalX: “The A321 P2F is a great addition to Avianca Cargo’s aircraft fleet, providing it flexibility to offer cargo services to smaller markets, and to feed Avianca’s A330 fleet at the airline’s main hubs.”
Said Gabriel Oliva, CEO of Avianca Cargo: “This partnership will allow us to offer in the short and mid-term, more capacity to our customers starting in 2022, with a clear objective of fulfilling their needs. With this, we will expand our capacity in specific markets, offering more options and products.”
Said Arturo Barreira, President Airbus Latin America: “We are proud that Avianca Cargo selected the A330-300P2F. This new generation freighter jet will provide Avianca Cargo with a highly efficient and flexible operation based on the proven and technologically advanced A330 family and it’s the perfect complement to their existing A330-200F fleet, benefiting Avianca Cargo from the advantages of family commonality.”
The A321 P2F features a capacity of 14 upper deck and 10 lower deck containers, which is fifty-five percent more containerized volume than the Boeing 737-800 freighter and fourteen percent more containerized volume than the Boeing 757-200 freighter.
It boasts an estimated nineteen percent lower fuel burn than the Boeing 757-200 freighter. The capacity and fuel economy of the aircraft is poised to position the A321 freighter as the dominant player in the narrowbody cargo market.
GlobalX is a US 121 domestic flag and supplemental Airline flying the Airbus A320 family aircraft. GlobalX flies as a passenger ACMI and charter airline serving the US, Caribbean, and Latin American markets. In 2022, GlobalX will enter ACMI cargo service flying the A321 freighter, subject to DOT and FAA approvals.
Pictured: An Avianca Cargo freighter in its current fleet
