Saudia Cargo and ASL Aviation expand global freight reach with new Airbus A330 freighters

Saudia Cargo and ASL Aviation Holdings have entered a wet lease agreement for two Airbus A330-300P2F freighters, boosting global air cargo capacity and connectivity.

The first aircraft, MSN 1272, recently completed passenger-to-freighter conversion and repainting in Saudia Cargo livery, and will begin service with ASL Airlines Ireland in September 2025 before delivery to Saudia Cargo in Q4. The second aircraft will follow later this year.

This ACMI deal includes crews, maintenance, and insurance, marking the return of the A330F to ASL Airlines Ireland’s fleet. The A330-300P2F offers a payload capacity of up to 62 tonnes over 6,850 km, with 26 main deck and 11 lower hold pallet positions, supporting both express parcels and larger cargo.

The aircraft will operate across ASL’s network of over 50 destinations in Europe, North America, and Asia, complementing its B737 and ATR72 freighters. Saudia Cargo says the expansion will strengthen supply chain resilience and support Saudi Arabia’s role as a global logistics hub, while ASL highlights the move as a flexible, high-capacity solution for express and e-commerce markets.