Japan Airlines and Yamato Transport, a well-known delivery and logistics company in Tokyo, have started a new service in Japan using specially modified Airbus A321 planes to carry cargo. Instead of passengers, these planes are now set up to transport goods, helping Yamato deliver packages faster, especially to remote islands in Japan where regular truck routes are less convenient.
The company responsible for the conversion is called EFW (Elbe Flugzeugwerke GmbH), which is partly owned by Airbus and ST Engineering, a company in Singapore that specializes in engineering and aircraft maintenance. EFW signed an agreement with MRO Japan, a company based in Okinawa, to help with these conversions in Japan. With this agreement, MRO Japan will take old passenger Airbus A321s and fit them with equipment to carry cargo on the main deck, which is where passengers would normally sit. They plan to start by the end of 2025, once MRO Japan is fully trained and equipped.
This agreement with MRO Japan is strategic for EFW and Airbus because Japan’s air cargo market, which includes all types of air transport for goods, is growing. In fact, it’s expected to expand at an annual rate of 4.2% until 2029. By establishing a conversion facility in Japan, EFW can cater more directly to Japanese airlines and logistics companies like Yamato, helping meet the demand for quicker, more flexible air freight options.
For this new service, Japan Airlines began using these A321 freighters on behalf of Yamato Transport in April. Yamato created this air cargo network to overcome the challenges they face with a shortage of truck drivers in Japan, which makes fast road transport difficult.
To move parcels swiftly across regions, Yamato uses Japan Airlines’ low-cost carrier, Spring Japan, to operate night flights. These planes now travel from Tokyo’s Haneda Airport to Sapporo and Kitakyushu, increasing Yamato’s package handling capacity and covering five major airports, including Tokyo Narita and Okinawa. These flights carry a range of goods, from fresh seafood to everyday packages, helping Yamato meet high demand.
ST Engineering, which owns most of EFW, is primarily responsible for handling the actual modifications on these planes. They redesign parts of the A321 to fit a large cargo door and strengthen the structure so it can carry heavier loads safely. EFW also modifies larger Airbus models like the A330 for cargo use, but demand for the A321 conversion is especially high because it’s a smaller, versatile plane ideal for regional routes.
Due to labor constraints in the U.S., EFW is shifting some production from its San Antonio and Mobile sites to Germany, Singapore, and China, maintaining a yearly capacity of over two dozen conversions.
The A321 freighter model can accommodate up to 14 containers on its main deck, with an option to add small containers in the lower hold.
By leveraging their expertise and resources, Lading Logistics aims to provide efficient and reliable international shipping and logistics solutions for their clients.
