So-called “preighters” have been history in the European Union since August 1, 2022, because EASA has not extended the exemption rule that has existed since spring 2020. This is no longer considered necessary.

At the beginning of the corona pandemic, passenger flights were not in demand at all due to border closures and almost insurmountable entry and quarantine regulations that were issued in a panic without any scientific evidence. Many airlines have temporarily ceased operations or have been able to “escape” to the freight industry, at least in part.

There was temporarily an extremely high demand, so that passenger planes were also used to transport masks and other goods. Also the Austrian Austrian Airlines worked machines with which normally passengers are transported, temporarily into so-called "preighters".. For the carrier mentioned, however, it was more of a "groscherl business" because in Austria - in contrast to other European countries - there was no freight boom. On the contrary: The volume even declined sharply.

EASA now sees no need for the continued use of passenger aircraft as so-called "preighters". The exemption expired on July 31, 2022 and has not been extended. The European authority explains: The exemptions were not extended beyond July 31, 2022. The same applies to existing permits issued on the basis of the deviation for the carriage of cargo in passenger compartments. Cargo capacity in passenger aircraft holds is expected to increase by the summer of 2022, which will ease the pressure on the logistics chain.”