Covid-19 has forced the airline industry to reinvent itself – and adaptability has been the name of the game. With air fleets grounded and cargo demand surging, finding airfreight in passenger seats has become a fairly common occurrence – with the new passenger-cargo aircraft termed ‘preighters’.According to Ton Veltman, cabin project manager for Dutch airline KLM’s cargo division, f light safety has been a major concern. Boxes must be loaded into the seats with enormous care to avoid damaging the interior, seats and entertainment systems. To address this the airline has designed a user-friendly, easy-to-install (and remove) quality cargo seat bag (CSB). The bags not only protect the interior, but also double loading capacity on the seats, reduce physical strain during handling, and prevent plastic waste.KLM received the first set of 172 bags (single-seat, double-seat and triple-seat versions) earlier in April. During the first operational f light using CSBs about 950 boxes (10 tonnes) of medical relief goods and Covid-19 test kits were flown from Shanghai to Amsterdam.“This development is a true example of creativity and perseverance that will be key in the years to come,” said Veltman, indicating that the solution had immediately addressed the airline’s need for extra cargo capacity for medical equipment – including Covid-19 vaccine equipment. He said the bags had been developed in conjunction with cargo equipment supplier Trip & Co. Edwin de Jongh, chief commercial officer of Trip & Co, described the CSBs as a flexible, easy-to-use, lightweight solution. “They give the airline an opportunity to offer extra cargo capacity in the passenger cabin and avoid having to convert the cabin permanently. It reminds me of the ‘quick-change solution of the seventies’ – within an hour, the cabin is transformed from ‘cargo’ to a place ready to welcome passengers for a comfortable flight. ”KLM is the first airline to use the cargo seat bag.
