Saudia Cargo will add two Airbus A330-300 passenger to freighter (P2F) aircraft to its fleet under a wet lease agreement with global aviation services company, ASL Aviation Holdings.
The Saudi Arabian freighter airline said the first aircraft in its ACMI (Aircraft, Crew, Maintenance, and Insurance) lease deal with ASL, MSN 1272, arrived at Ireland's Shannon Airport (SNN) in mid-June following P2F conversion.
Although the aircraft, formerly registered as N810CM, has already been painted in the Saudia livery, it will operate for ASL Airlines Ireland as EI-LKD from September and will then be delivered to Saudia Cargo in the fourth quarter of this year. The second aircraft is also scheduled to arrive in the fourth quarter.
The ACMI lease agreement includes operational support, such as dedicated crews, a robust maintenance programme, and insurance.
The A330F type is making a return to ASL Airlines Ireland’s fleet of Boeing 737 and ATR72 freighters, said Saudia Cargo.
The A330F can cover distances of up to 6,850 km (3,700 nautical miles) and carry up to 62 tonnes (115,808 pounds) of revenue payload, with 26 pallets available on the main deck and a further 11 pallets (32 LD3) available in the lower hold.
According to Planespotters, Saudia Cargo currently has two 747-400P2Fs, two 747-400Fs and four 777Fs.
Loay Mashabi, chief executive and managing director of Saudia Cargo, said: “Expanding our capacity and global reach is a strategic imperative for Saudia Cargo, ensuring uninterrupted supply chains for our customers.
"The integration of this A330-300P2F, in partnership with ASL Aviation Holdings, will significantly support our network capabilities, enabling us to connect markets with greater agility and efficiency.
"This pivotal addition directly supports our vision to solidify our position as a leading global air cargo carrier and solidifies the Kingdom’s role as a global logistics hub.”
Dave Andrew, chief executive of ASL Aviation Holdings, said: “We are delighted to partner with Saudia Cargo to welcome an A330-300P2F to the ASL fleet. This partnership is a positive statement for ASL as we continue to strengthen and grow.
"The new A330-300P2F aircraft is ideal for Saudia Cargo’s express shipping and e-commerce services, providing a flexible solution to meet the diverse shipping needs of its customers and deliver reliable, high-quality cargo services.”
Saudia Cargo has recently announced several initiatives to boost the reach of its network. These include a cooperation agreement with China Cargo Airlines and global logistics partnership agreements with Scan Global Logistics (SGL) and Air Logistics Europe.A
