Raya Airways Takes Delivery of Southeast Asia’s First Airbus A321P2F
KUALA LUMPUR, May 22 (Bernama) -- Regional air cargo operator Raya Airways Sdn Bhd has taken delivery of a leased Airbus A321 passenger-to-freighter aircraft (A321P2F), Southeast Asia’s first, which will allow it to cater to a wider customer base, expand its network reach and improve its cargo handling capacity.
Managing director Mohamad Najib Ishak said the carrier is embracing a new age of sustainable air freight transportation with the introduction of the fuel-efficient aircraft.
“We are delighted that the A321P2F provides optimal economic efficiency, cargo capacity, and performance in the single-aisle freighter segment, allowing us to broaden our market reach and customer base, aligned with our strategic growth plans to deepen our presence in the Asia-Pacific region.
“The arrival of this aircraft signifies our commitment to providing efficient, sustainable and reliable air transportation solutions to our customers,” he said in a statement Monday.
The A321P2F, which brings Raya’s fleet size to six, offers the carrier an additional payload capacity of over 27.5 tonnes of cargo per flight and a range of 3,778km on maximum payload.
The freighter aircraft is leased from ST Engineering’s joint-venture company, Juniper Aviation Investments, and managed by ST Engineering’s aviation asset management business, while the conversion was carried out by Elbe Flugzeugwerke, a joint venture between ST Engineering and Airbus.
In line with its strategic direction to fortify its network and flight frequency, Raya has demonstrated its commitment to growth through a significant increase in its international flight operations.
It said that in 2022, Raya has boosted its international flights to/from Nanning (China) from four to 11 flights weekly, while flights to/from Singapore were increased from four to nine flights weekly, and flights to/from Jakarta (Indonesia) from five to seven flights weekly.
The carrier’s proactive approach to new market expansion is further exemplified by its introduction of weekly flights to Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi, Vietnam.
-- BERNAMA
