United commences cargo-in-cabin flight operation from LHR to ORD

Following the recent approval from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to carry cargo in approved storage areas in the passenger cabin, United Airlines inaugural cargo-in-cabin flight has recently commenced operation from London Heathrow (LHR) to Chicago (ORD) carrying over 4,200 pounds of mail in the passenger cabin, plus a full payload of freight in the belly of the aircraft. Initially, cargo-in-cabin shipments will be loaded on the Boeing 777 and 787 aircraft operating United’s cargo-only flights.

“At United, we are doing everything we can to keep supply chains moving and meet the demand for critical shipments around the globe. By loading our existing cabin storage areas with cargo and mail, we can move even more critical medical equipment and other vital shipments the world needs to manage through the pandemic,” said Liz Woolmington, United Cargo senior regional manager – Europe, Middle East, India and Africa.

United’s cargo-only network currently offers services between six of its US hubs and 18 airports worldwide. Since the start of its cargo-only flights program on 19 March 2020, United has operated over 1,300 cargo-only flights transporting over 44 million pounds of cargo.