Cebu Pacific Air (5J, Manila Ninoy Aquino Int'l) has converted two of its eight A330-300s into makeshift freighters, conversion specialist Aircraft Interior Refurbishment España (AIRE) said in a press release.

"We saw this pandemic as an opportunity to revisit our operations to further improve wherever possible. Now more than ever, transport of goods must not be hampered, and the A330 reconfiguration will help us address the growing demand with a cabin fully dedicated for cargo. These converted aircraft will effectively enable us to carry more goods while doing so in a more efficient manner compared to regular A330s that rely on belly space," Vice-President (Commercial) Alex Reyes said.

The Filipino low-cost carrier operates eight A330-300s, out of which two are in long-term storage at Alice Springs. Another one, RP-C3345 (msn 1552) has been parked at Manila Ninoy Aquino Int'l since November 4, 2020, while the other five are active on regional, mostly cargo-only routes, Flightradar24 ADS-B data shows.

An airline spokeswoman has since confirmed to ch-aviation the first aircraft to undergo conversion is RP-C3344 (msn 1527) while the identity of the second has yet to be decided on.

Cebu's cargo flights are normally served by one ATR72-500(F) operated by regional subsidiary Cebgo (DG, Manila Ninoy Aquino Int'l). During the COVID-19 pandemic, the unit also started deploying one of its ATR72-500s for cargo-only flights. The airline has also been using A330s, An-320200s, A321-200s, and A321-200Ns to operate cargo-only flights.