GlobalX (G6, Miami International) is planning to add its first passenger A330 by the summer of 2024, with A330 freighters due to follow later once the cargo market rebounds and aircraft availability improves.
"We have already gotten a lot of interest and demand for an A330 passenger aircraft from some of our clients. We've received board approval to start the certification process which is a very low risk," Chief Executive Ed Wegel said during a recent investors call. "We hope to have an A330 flying for next summer."
The airline is currently updating its manuals, training programmes, and getting the FAA approvals for the early stages of certification using internal resources at a relatively low cost. The later, more costly certification will require a separate board approval, but Wegel is optimistic that the programme will be executed in 2024.
GLOBALX, meanwhile, has deferred its previously announced plans to add converted A330s.
"We can't get an A330 freighter now, and frankly, even if we could, I think we would want to wait until the volumes come back up on the long-haul cargo markets," Wegel said.
The airline is expanding in the short-haul cargo market with plans to grow its converted A321-200 fleet to eight aircraft by early 2024. However, GLOBALX sees the A321 freight market as entirely separate from its A330 plans - the former operate mainly within the United States and to Latin America, while the latter would cover long-haul routes.
