Australia's Qantas Freight to add A321 freighters from 4Q20

Qantas Freight (XME, Sydney Kingsford Smith) will induct up to three A321 P2F-converted freighters as part of an expanded domestic and international air freight agreement with Australia Post.

According to a joint statement, the seven-year agreement is valued at over AUD1 billion Australian dollars (USD679 million) and will give Australia Post access to Qantas Freight’s fleet of dedicated freighters aircraft and priority access to bellyhold space onboard Qantas and Jetstar Airways passenger flights.

The three A321-200(F) freighters, for which Qantas Freight is the type's launch operator, are due to enter the fleet in October 2020. they will, however, be operated on its behalf by fellow Qantas Group subsidiary, Express Freighters Australia (QE, Sydney Kingsford Smith).

“Australia Post plays a critical role connecting Australian businesses and communities to each other and the rest of the world, and with the continued growth in online shopping, we can now take it to new heights,” Christine Holgate, CEO and Managing Director, Australia Post, said in a statement.

“This agreement will further boost our unrivalled, dedicated air freighter network with newer aircraft and more capacity right up until the opening of the new Western Sydney Airport in 2026."

“The enhanced air freighter network complements AUD900 million (USD611 million) in investment across our network through automation and infrastructure, and provides the speed, flexibility and reliability customers expect."

Qatar Airways cancels A350s, orders B747-8 freighters

Qatar Airways (QR, Doha Hamad Int'l) has scrapped orders with Airbus (AIB, Toulouse Blagnac) for four A350-900s while placing new ones with Boeing (BOE, Chicago O'Hare) for two B747-8(F)s the carrier's Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Akbar al Baker has said.

According to Bloomberg, al Baker said the A350s were dropped following lengthy delays in their deliveries. Qatar Airways' A350 contract reportedly includes a clause allowing it to scrap handovers if they are delayed beyond a certain point.

"We confirm that Qatar Airways has canceled four of their contractual A350 delivery slots," an Airbus spokesman later confirmed to Reuters adding that the decision was related to "known supply chain issues".
In March, al Baker lambasted the Europeans for the delivery delays while highlighting the fact that the airline was now eight destinations behind schedule as a result.

Qatar Airways currently operates nineteen A350-900s. The B747 freighters will be the first of the type in the carrier's cargo fleet which consists of twelve B777-Fs, eight A330-200(F)s, and one B747-400(F) (wet-leased from SW Italia (IU, Milan Malpensa)).

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FPP - FRA

Qantas extends B747-400(F) lease agreement with Atlas Air

Qantas Freight and Atlas Air have extended an existing agreement in which Atlas Air will continue to wet-lease two B747-400(F)s, N492MC (msn 29253) & N493MC (msn 29254), to Qantas for use on trans-Pacific routes linking Australia and Asia with the United States.