[Report] "Securing Firm No.1 Position in LCC with Introduction of Cargo Aircraft No.2"

Jeju Air Cargo Aircraft No. 2 First Public Reveal
Cabin Crew Space Limited to Narrow Aisle and Cockpit
Cargo Loaded to Balance Weight Center
Aircraft No. 1 Operates Cargo Between Yantai, China and Narita, Japan

On the afternoon of the 14th at Incheon International Airport Cargo Terminal, Jeju Air's second cargo aircraft, which had been introduced just ten days earlier, was preparing for its third takeoff. The second aircraft began its first flight the previous day at 11 p.m., departing from Incheon to Hanoi, Vietnam, and returned to Incheon Airport at 9:54 a.m. the same day. The cargo on this route consists equally of high value-added products such as electronics and automotive parts, and clothing products. After waiting for 12 hours, the second aircraft, which was to head back to Vietnam, was completely empty inside. This cargo plane is a B737-800BCF, the same model as the passenger aircraft currently operated by Jeju Air.

On the 14th at 4:30 PM, Jeju Air Cargo Flight No. 2 was parked at the Incheon International Airport Cargo Terminal. The second flight, which began its first operation heading from Incheon to Hanoi, Vietnam at 11 PM the previous day, returned to Incheon Airport at 9:54 AM on the same day.
[Photo by Oh Gyumin moh011@]

This second cargo aircraft holds special significance for Jeju Air. It symbolizes the airline's solidification of its position as the number one cargo transporter within the LCC (Low-Cost Carrier) industry. From January to November this year, Jeju Air transported 86,957 tons of international cargo, ranking third among Korean carriers after Korean Air (1,989,298 tons) and Asiana Airlines (1,330,345 tons).

Jeju Air's efforts to firmly establish its third place in cargo transportation were evident inside the cargo aircraft. Upon climbing the stairs and entering the cargo plane's entrance, one sees the restroom and cockpit entrance. To the left is the entrance to the cargo hold where luggage is loaded. It was so narrow that an adult male had to bend forward completely to enter. The empty interior of the cargo plane revealed the floor, which was densely fitted with rollers to facilitate loading. This cargo plane carries ten pallets on the main deck (the upper part of the aircraft), each approximately 1 meter wide and long, stacked up to 2 meters high, and one pallet about half that size. Once these pallets are loaded, they are secured to the floor, and personnel use the rollers to push the pallets forward or backward inside the cargo plane. Including the lower deck (the lower part of the aircraft), where smaller cargo is loaded like in a regular passenger plane, this cargo plane can carry up to 23.9 tons of cargo. This design minimizes personnel access space to maximize cargo loading.

The cargo plane's interior floor is densely fitted with rollers to make loading goods easier.
Photo by Oh Gyumin

To maintain the aircraft's center of gravity, the heaviest pallet (up to 4,535 kg) must be placed in the central fifth position. When all 11 pallets are loaded, the pallet at the rear of the plane weighs the least at 1,587 kg. The loading sequence starts with the pallet at the very front of the plane, followed by the one at the very rear. After loading pallets in order from the rear, the third pallet, which is at the cargo entrance, is loaded last, and then the entrance is closed.

To balance the airplane's center of gravity, the heaviest pallet (up to 4,535 kg) must be placed in the central 5th position. In the case of Jeju Air Cargo Flight No. 2, the 'M' method (center of the photo) is used, which accommodates 11 pallets.
Photo by Oh Gyumin moh011@

At the same time, Jeju Air's first cargo aircraft returned after loading cargo in Yantai, China. Workers were busy unloading cargo from Yantai, mostly clothing products. Recently, items related to Chinese e-commerce platforms like AliExpress have been rapidly increasing. The unloading sequence starts with cargo at the lower deck entrance, followed by the main cargo on the main deck. Two to three workers on the cargo plane placed pallets onto a loader machine to unload them. The loader is a machine approximately 8 meters long and 4 meters high, used for loading and unloading cargo, capable of handling up to 30 tons. The loader lowers the pallets to the airport floor, where workers easily move the cargo onto forklifts via rollers on the loader's floor. The cargo loaded onto the forklifts is then taken into the logistics center for sorting.

At 4:30 PM on the 14th, Jeju Air Cargo Flight 1 returned after loading cargo in Yantai, China. The scene of unloading cargo from the lower deck.
[Photo by Oh Gyumin moh011@]

Within less than 30 minutes, all cargo was unloaded and new cargo was immediately loaded. Within an hour, all cargo from Yantai was unloaded, and cargo bound for Narita Airport in Tokyo, Japan, was loaded. About 80% of the cargo bound for Narita consists of health food products from iHerb, in collaboration with CJ Logistics. CJ Logistics, which manages the iHerb Incheon logistics center, has contracted to use Jeju Air's cargo planes for products heading to Japan. The first cargo aircraft loaded with cargo departed for Tokyo around 6 p.m. that day. The second aircraft, unveiled that day, is scheduled to operate not only the Incheon-Hanoi route but also the Incheon-Yantai and Tokyo (Narita) routes served by the first aircraft.

A Jeju Air cargo flight carrying cargo unloaded entirely from Yantai, China, and heading straight to Narita Airport in Tokyo, Japan.
Photo by Oh Gyumin moh011@