Lufthansa Technik and Airbus team up to offer customers a reversible
Cargo-in-Cabin solution to satisfy urgent demand quickly and easily.
The solution for the Airbus A330 family comprises the Supplemental
Type Certificate (STC) as well as material kits to modify the
passenger aircraft for temporary cargo transport. Cargo capacity is
thus increased by up to 15t of additional payload depending on
aircraft configuration. Finnair is the first airline to modify an
Airbus A330-300 to carry commercial, non-dangerous goods in the main
pax deck.  

Due to the slow air traffic recovery belly capacity is still low and
not likely to return until 2024 to pre-Covid level. Additionally, the
exemptions granted by the authorities in the beginning of the
pandemic to reuse passenger cabins to transport medical supplies
expired. Together with Airbus, Lufthansa Technik now responds with
the "Temporary Cargo Cabin", an STC which allows to modify a
passenger cabin into a cargo hold.  

"We join forces with Airbus in times of crisis to deliver the best
solution for aircraft operators. We mutually benefit from each
other's expertise in many respects and thus create a blueprint for
possible future co-operations'', says Soeren Stark, Chief Operations
Officer & Accountable Manager at Lufthansa Technik. Daniel Wenninger,
Airbus' VP Airframe Services,"The cooperation with Lufthansa Technik
enables the smooth implementation of this temporary cargo solution.
The A330's best in class operational economics and versatile cabin
makes it the perfect aircraft for cargo missions in the current
context. With such a new solution, we keep on supporting our Airbus
customers."

Frontrunner Finnair  
Finnair is the launch customer for the "Temporary Cargo Cabin": The
operator modified an Airbus A330 at its home base in Helsinki lately,
the approval process for the STC is underway. The simple embodiment
can be carried out at any Part 145 provider worldwide. "With this
EASA Approved STC solution we are able to continue our successful
cargo operations even during ramp-up. The solution is technically
simple and does not require massive investments like traditional
cargo conversions", adds Juha Ojala, Vice President of Finnair
Technical Operations

Comprehensive technical solution to fulfill EASA requirements  
Typically, the embodiment of the "Temporary Cargo Cabin" includes
removal of seats and monuments depending on the individual layout and
customer needs. This also comprises, e.g., that seat-to-seat IFE
harnessing has to be de-installed or water supply interfaces have to
be plugged temporarily. The solution foresees to install standard TSO
(Technical Standard Order) approved pallets with special brackets on
the seat tracks in the center column of the aircraft and create
additional positions in the lateral areas ensuring an optimal use of
the A330 cabin. The bulk cargo will be secured with standard TSO
approved nets. As part of the material kit, Lufthansa Technik
provides a cabin kit and firefighting equipment to be in line with
cabin safety requirements of EASA .