AIR Canada Cargo has taken delivery of the first of eight freighters as it prepares to re-launch dedicated all-cargo operations after announcing earlier in the year that it plans to convert surplus B767-300 aircraft into a freighter configuration.

The first of the aircraft has now been delivered and will "commence operations soon", Air Canada said.

"These freighters will provide consistent capacity on key air cargo routes, starting with Europe and the Americas, to facilitate the movement of goods globally," the airline said.

The carrier said the first of the eight aircraft will cater for demand "during the busy peak season", reports London's Air Cargo News.

"The expanded main deck and structural modifications of our newly modified freighters will offer five different main deck configurations, increasing the overall cargo capacity of each Boeing 767 to over 57 tonnes (438 cubic metres)," Air Canada said.

"With approximately 75 per cent of this capacity being on the main deck, the expanded doors allow us to effectively load full-sized pallets and containers, and each compartment is designed for appropriate temperature control to handle specialized and perishable commodities."

The initial list of planned routes for the Boeing 767-300ER freighters will be based primarily on Toronto Pearson International Airport and will operate to Miami, Quito, Lima, Mexico City and Guadalajara - the latter a first for Air Canada Cargo.

Additional destinations to be served in early 2022, as more converted freighters enter service, include Halifax, St John's, Madrid and Frankfurt, said the airline.

Source Shipping Gazette