The A321 freighters will be sourced from the open market and converted from carrying passengers to cargo subject to commercial negotiations, the airline said, adding the planes were expected to arrive between early 2024 and mid-2026. Qantas Chief Executive Alan Joyce said the airline's freight division, which reported record first-half earnings, was one of the group's stand out performers during the pandemic as Australians shifted to online shopping. However, the strong cargo demand that helped passenger-deprived airlines stay afloat during the pandemic is showing signs of softening amid growing economic uncertainty, in part, fuelled by high inflation.