Australia Post Adds New A330 Freighter to Prepare for the Peak Season Rush
(Image Source: Mitchul Hope, Flickr)
In an attempt to accommodate the escalating demands of the booming e-commerce sector during the upcoming holiday season, Australia Post has unveiled the latest addition to its fleet. The new A330 freighter, which officially became operational on 22 October 2023, is expected to provide vital capacity and flexibility to the national postal service.
This remarkable enhancement in Australia Post's capabilities has been made possible through a partnership with Qantas Freight. The newly converted A330-200P2F aircraft boasts twice the volume of Australia Post's largest existing freighter. With a nightly capacity of 130 tonnes, the fresh addition will initially operate between the east coast and Perth, dedicated to the carriage of StarTrack and Express Post parcels.
In addition, this investment represents a significant milestone in Australia Post's unwavering commitment to fortify its delivery network, effectively increasing peak season capacity by 29 percent. Beyond the obvious operational advantages, the new freighter aligns with Australia Post's green initiatives and emissions reduction targets, further modernizing the company's logistical infrastructure. As it replaces a retiring B737F, the A330 proves its environmental credentials by producing 42 percent less carbon emissions per kilogram of cargo than its predecessor, thanks to its enhanced capacity and fuel efficiency.
Paul Graham, Australia Post's Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director, underscored the importance of the new addition within the broader context of Australia Post's mission to serve its growing customer base: "Our new A330 freighter delivers increased flexibility within our freighter fleet, creating a sustainable, long-term solution to meet growing customer demand driven by eCommerce. This new freighter also builds on our longstanding partnership with Qantas Freight, which operates our existing freighter fleet."
Graham further elaborated by saying, "The new A330 provides a direct boost to our freighter capacity during our busiest time of year, ensuring we are well placed to manage the increased volume expected across the cyber sales period and Christmas. Notably, the A330 allows us to further simplify and streamline our services while delivering on our commitment to a more sustainable future. The additional capacity of this aircraft allows us to reduce the number of aircraft we have in the air by operating on our largest volume sectors, in turn reducing our carbon footprint and supporting fast and reliable deliveries for our customers."
As the holiday season approaches, Australia Post has also unveiled its last sending dates for Christmas deliveries. For parcels sent via Parcel Post to and from most destinations within Australia, the deadline is Monday, December 18. For those opting for Express Post, parcels should be dispatched by Thursday, December 21. Those sending to or from Western Australia and the Northern Territory are advised to allow for a few extra days.
Source: Australia Post Takes off with new A330 Freighter
