newstodate.aero

Apr 16, 2020 (newstodate): After its first all-cargo flight with an Airbus A350-900 passenger aircraft between Helsinki and Seoul on March 28, 2020, Finnair is now going all-in to keep at least part of the fleet in commercial operation.
   This week, Finnair will thus fly more than ten rotations on its A350 aircraft to Tokyo Narita, Seoul, Osaka, Shanghai and Guangzhou to carry national emergency supplies to Finland and Estonia, coronavirus samples from private healthcare provider Mehilainen, and critical supplies from other companies and organizations, as well as normal cargo including notably Norwegian seafood.
   The flight operations are set up both as charter flights as  well as own commercial operations by Finnair.
   While previous all-cargo operations with passenger aircraft have been performed using belly compartment only, Finnair is now to increase cargo capacity by converting the cabins of two A350 aircraft for cargo use.
   -As the seats are not removed from the cabin but only covered for protection, using the cabin will add about 10 percent to the total cargo capacity on the converted aircraft. The overhead bins and the space under the seats will also be used to store cargo shipments, says a Finnair spokesperson.
   -We keep operating cargo flights to Asian destinations also in the coming weeks. And as there is an increasing demand for air cargo transportations, we are open to more destinations.
   So far, only two passenger aircraft are to be converted, Finnair says.