From spring 2024, Japan Airlines will operate up to 21 daily cargo flights with the Airbus A321P2F aircraft type on behalf of Yamoto Holdings. For the time being, three A321s are to be converted by Elbe Flugzeugwerke in Singapore.

The cargo aircraft will then be operated by the JAL subsidiary Spring Airlines Japan. These are painted in the colors of Yamoto Transport. The conversion is scheduled to start in March 2023 and be completed by spring 2024.

“At each of the airports where freighters are planned to operate, we are installing the necessary aircraft and improving the facilities required for freighter operations. Both companies will hire new employees, including those who will be involved in flight operations and cargo handling, in preparation for the launch of the new aircraft in 2024," Japan Airlines said in a statement.

The three Airbus A321P2F are to be used primarily in domestic traffic. It is currently planned that these will run up to 21 times per day between Tokyo, Kitakyushu, Sapporo and Okinawa. The use of the conversion freighters should offer the customer significant cost advantages. Due to the fact that the state of Japan consists of different islands, air freight plays a major role domestically.