Since the global pandemic in early 2020, which led to international border closures, it meant that there has been a severe reduction in passenger flights.
There has also been a decline in the volume of bellyhold space available for cargo.
To make up for the shortfall and maintain global supply chains during the pandemic, Scoot, which is the low-cost arm of the Singapore Airlines Group (SIA), has been operating cargo flights using passenger aircraft, where many of the goods were placed on passenger seats.
On August 24, the airline announced that it has modified one of its A320ceo aircraft by removing all its passenger seats. The modification will enable the aircraft to carry more than double its regular cargo to almost 20 tonnes.
The changes made also include the installation of placards to mark areas where cargo can be placed, and the increase of fire extinguishers on board.
For this aircraft, there will be a minimum of two pilots and two cabin crew on board.
The first cargo charter flight by the modified aircraft flew from Fuzhou to Singapore from August 22, which makes Scoot one of the first airlines in Southeast Asia to do so.
The flight transported some 13 tonnes of cargo in both the bellyhold and cabin. It has four more flights scheduled for the rest of August.
Scoot says another A320ceo aircraft is scheduled to go through similar modification works this week.
Shares in SIA closed 3 cents higher, or 0.8% up, at $3.67.
