Market Trends of Europe Freighter Aircraft Industry
Derivative of Non-Cargo Aircraft Segment is Anticipated to Dominate the Market
- The derivative of the non-cargo aircraft segment currently dominates the market and is expected to continue its dominance during the forecast period. This is mainly due to the increasing preference of airlines and cargo operators to modernize their fleet of freighter aircraft to meet the growing cargo volume. Passenger-to-freight (P2F) conversion is a low-cost solution compared to the dedicated cargo aircraft. Due to the growing cargo, airlines have increased their aircraft fleet size.
- For instance, in June 2023, ASL Aviation Holdings’ cargo airline operating from the UK increased its fleet to two aircraft with a used Boeing B737-800 jet converted by Boeing from passenger to freighter configuration. Also, in April 2022, DHL Express ordered nine Mammoth-converted Boeing B777-200LR freighters from Jetran. The first cargo aircraft will be delivered in 2024, with the remaining aircraft to be supplied until early 2027. Between 2018 and 2022, DHL bought 28 new B777-200F freighters from Boeing – 18 aircraft are currently in service. The remaining aircraft will be delivered from 2023 to 2025.
- Major airlines like British Airways, Lufthansa, and Finnair are converting their passenger aircraft cabins to create space for additional cargo in the aircraft. This will help airlines expand cargo capacity for medical applications. Such orders for new conversions are anticipated to bolster the market's growth during the forecast period.
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Germany is Expected to Witness Significant Growth During the Forecast Period
- The German economy is the fourth largest in the world, accounting for one-quarter (24.7 percent) of the European Union’s GDP. Germany is also the US’ largest European trading partner and the sixth-largest market for US exports. The government of Germany is committed to strengthening the country’s trade corridors, which support the supply chains, help grow the economy, ensure its recovery, and create jobs. The increase in trade volume and the government’s efforts to strengthen the import-export culture of the country are the primary factors driving the freighter aircraft market in Germany.
- For instance, India and Germany share a strategic partnership, with Germany being India’s biggest trading partner in the European Union. The total bilateral trade between the two countries stood at USD 26 billion during FY23. In 2022, air cargo transported in Germany amounted to roughly 4.9 million tons. Germany is one of the central air cargo hubs in Europe, with Frankfurt Airport, Leipzig/Halle Airport, and Cologne Bonn Airport handling the country's most cargo. DHL International and Lufthansa are the major freighter service providers in the region.
- In May 2022, Lufthansa Cargo placed an order for seven Boeing B777-8 Freighters and has also placed a new order for two Boeing B777 Freighters to add to its cargo fleet. Such developments are expected to accelerate the growth of the country's freighter aircraft market.
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