In an update issued yesterday (Monday 11 April), EASA announced that the conditions requiring the services had changed and that the exemptions will not apply beyond 31 July.
Transporting cargo in the cabin was approved on a case-by-case basis at the start of the pandemic on a time-limited basis because the design of passenger cabins do not meet any of the CS-25 cargo compartment requirements.
Travel restrictions have been lifted in recent months and bellyhold capacity is returning, with EASA saying that the logistical challenges of the pandemic no longer exist.
It says: “During the peak of the pandemic, when almost all long haul operation had been suspended, there was a need to support the logistic chain with solution to increase the cargo capacity using passenger aircraft to transport cargo on the main deck. Cargo capacity in the holds of passenger aircraft is expected to increase by summer 2022, thus reducing the pressure on the logistic chain.”
Operators can apply for exemption before 31 July but EASA says it should only be issued if there is evidence that a major change to the Type Certificate or Supplementary Type Certificate has been made to EASA and the duration of the requested exemption does not exceed the time to complete the technical investigation.
The exemption must not extend beyond 31 July and EASA says the conditions will not be valid after that date.