News / Pandemic Q&A : Is it legal, and safe, to carry cargo in aircraft passenger cabins?

Austrian Airlines

Question: “All these passenger airlines moving freight in passenger cabins. Is it legal? Is it safe? Cargo airlines have very restrictive load restraint requirements and we see passenger airlines just tearing out seats and loading cartons in the gaps.”

There have been several images of passenger aircraft carrying cargo in the cabin.

However, an aviation expert explains that seats in passenger aircraft are attached to the floor by tracks, much like those on the lower deck. Weight requirements for the floor are well known by airlines, and they would also be well aware of balance and how cargo should be handled in the cabin.

“Very few airlines have taken seats out, but it would be up to each airline and its country authorities to decide how cargo can be tied down safely. They know what they are doing, and we have to assume that airlines and authorities are doing this safely.”

Judging by the images available so far, it looks pretty well done.

China Eastern flies medical equipment to Prague

Austrian Airlines 777

Please feel free to send [email protected] any questions you may have – and we’ll endeavour to find the answer.