South Korean airline Asiana Airlines Inc. has transformed its passenger aircraft A350-900 into a cargo carrier in a move to enhance its cargo operations.

The newly transformed aircraft debuted as a cargo carrier on Thursday flying from Incheon, Korea to Los Angeles carrying 20 tons of cargo goods. In October, the A350 will travel mostly on routes with high cargo demand, such as between Incheon and Ho Chi Minh City.

Asiana Airlines removed 283 economy seats from the aircraft’s passenger cabin and installed pallets and iron panels on the floor, making room for 5 tons of additional cargo. The conversion will push up the airline’s cargo volume from 1,152 tons to 1,175 tons.

Global aircraft manufacturer Airbus has taken great interest in the A350 transformation. Asiana Airlines consulted with Airbus from the very beginning on the move, and the changeover was carried out under guidelines approved by the European Union Aviation Safety Agency.

Source: Korean Investors