Japan Airlines (JAL) unveiled its first Boeing 767-300ER modified into a dedicated cargo aircraft (Boeing 767-300BCF, aircraft registration: JA653J) at Narita Airport on February 8. This marks the company’s first dedicated cargo aircraft in approximately 13 years, and it will start operating on short-haul Asian routes from February 19.
Under the rolling plan of the medium-term management plan announced in May last year, JAL decided to introduce dedicated cargo aircraft to capture the growing logistics demand. Among its 27 Boeing 767-300ERs (including 11 leased aircraft), three will be converted into dedicated cargo planes.
JA653J, the first aircraft to be refurbished, arrived at Tokyo/Narita from Paya Lebar, Singapore, on the afternoon of January 17, where it had undergone the modification. It sports the traditional white livery with the Tsurumaru logo, all passenger windows have been sealed, and has the “JAL CARGO” logo on the front part of the fuselage. Apart from the door at the front left side (“L1”) for crew and cargo handlers, other doors have been sealed and made inoperable.
The upper cargo hold can accommodate 24 pallets (up to 32 tons), and the lower cargo hold can carry 3 pallets and 9 containers (16 tons in total). The aircraft’s range is 10,460 kilometers.
Initially, it will operate out of Tokyo/Narita and Nagoya/Chubu, flying to Seoul/Incheon, Shanghai/Pudong, and Taipei/Taoyuan. Eventually, it aims to increase utilization rates by operating on domestic routes and maximize cargo load factors. Depending on customer needs, charter and extra flights will also be considered.
The second aircraft’s refurbishment is already completed, and it will start operations in March. A three-aircraft fleet is expected by the fiscal year 2025.
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