YTO Cargo Airlines (YG, Hangzhou) has inducted its only ARJ21-700(F) freighter into commercial service, with B-3329 (msn 112) operating a return flight from Yining to Tashkent International on June 6, 2024, FlightRadar24 ADS-B data shows.

“This was the first commercial flight of the ARJ21 passenger-to-cargo, marking the official entry of the type into the civil aviation cargo market and a new step in the development of the model,” COMAC said in a statement.

COMAC added that YTO Cargo Airlines will continue to deploy B-3329 regularly between Yining and Tashkent, “actively exploring the unique operating model of domestic cargo aircraft, providing support for YTO’s comprehensive internationalisation and building an international route network.”

The ch-aviation fleets module shows that YTO Cargo Airlines operates a fleet of 13 planes, including ten B757-200(PCF)s and two B767-300ER(BDSF)s.

Air Central (China) (GI, Zhengzhou) took delivery of the second ARJ21-700(F) in November last year. It has yet to introduce B-3388 (msn 109) into scheduled service.

The ARJ21-700(F) passenger-to-cargo jet has a maximum design payload of 10 tonnes and a design range of 2,778 kilometres. It is mainly used for domestic and short-haul international cargo transportation.

Last year, ch-aviation reported YTO Express invested in Shanghai Xiangyun International Freight Co., Ltd. at the same time it decided to add at least two ARJ21-700(F)s for YTO Cargo Airlines. Additionally, Brunei's GallopAir signed a Letter of Intent with COMAC for thirty aircraft, including an undisclosed amount of the passenger-to-cargo type.