The European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) says it will not extend COVID-related exemptions on the carriage of cargo in passenger aircraft cabins beyond July 31, 2022.

"Following a review of the operational context for transport of cargo in the passenger cabin, the agency has concluded that the logistical challenges that arose in 2020 as a result of the COVID-19 crisis no longer exist to the same extent," it said.

The European regulator had permitted carriers to apply for a simplified exemption to carry cargo in passenger cabins on March 24, 2020, when it became clear that the industry would need to increase its capacity to deliver medical supplies and personal protective equipment. EASA specified some requirements concerning the distribution and loading of cargo both on passenger seats and in cabins with seats removed but generally did not demand that the airlines upgrade their cabins to the required standards for cargo carriage.

Carriers will still be able to apply for new exemptions through the end of July 2022. Exemptions are normally valid for up to eight months but will lapse on August 1, 2022, regardless of the date of issuance. An exemption is not required to operate cargo-only flights with passenger aircraft as long as all the cargo is loaded into the bellyhold.

The ch-aviation fleets module shows that there are currently 43 passenger aircraft operated by European Union airlines in a makeshift freighter configuration (with seats removed). The majority of them are operated by ACMI/charter specialists, which acutely felt the drop in demand for passenger capacity during the pandemic. One start-up, Italy's AlisCargo (CP, Milan Malpensa), launched as a cargo specialist relying entirely on makeshift converted B777-200ERs.

EASA's decision has evoked varying reactions from EU carriers.

"It was clear that the exemptions for freighter operations are not permanent, and EASA will not extend them forever. Therefore, our team worked hard and prepared for this EASA decision. Currently, most of the aircraft in our fleet are already operating passenger flights on the US routes. Also, we're targeting Hajj flights," a spokesman for Airhub Airlines (RE, Malta International) told ch-aviation.

"We have received this news with surprise because we all know there is a lack of cargo capacity worldwide and this decision will directly affect cargo rates. This is not good for the industry nor for consumers," Enrique Saiz, the Chief Executive of Wamos Air (EB, Madrid Barajas), countered.

Heston Airlines (HN, Vilnius) told ch-aviation it expected to reconfigure two of its makeshift freighter A330-200s back into passenger configurations "on or around the EASA deadline".

"The great thing about the passenger to freight configuration embodied on our A330-200s is that they are fully reversible in a matter of weeks. The flexibility of the configuration was a draw for us from the beginning. Anticipating an inevitable return of passenger demand and a time limit from EASA on the preighter exemption, we looked to the option that would allow us maximum flexibility. We are planning a return to passenger service this summer, with one recently acquired A330 already in passenger configuration featuring a brand new interior, and an additional three of our A330s scheduled to convert back to passenger configuration by August," Chief Executive of Maleth-Aero (DB, Malta International) Lee Jones told ch-aviation.

Other European makeshift freighter operators contacted by ch-aviation did not comment.

The Civil Aviation Administration of China prohibited China-based carriers from carrying any non-pandemic-related goods in passenger cabins as of January 1, 2022.