Airbus Updates No.4106

 

Qantas welcomes 1st Airbus A330-200P2F

On 21 September 2023, Qantas took delivery of its first of two Airbus A330-200P2F (Passenger-to-Freighter) converted aircraft. The A330, VH-EBF (853), arrived at Cairns from Busan via Singapore. It had been under conversion at Dresden since November 2022.

The Airbus will be operated by Qantas-subsidiary Express Freighters and deployed for Australia Post, hence the titles. The second A330 will be operated for Qantas Freight. Express Freighters currently operates a fleet of three A321P2Fs, three Boeing B737-300BDSFs, one B737-400SF, and one B767-300F.

Airbus Updates No.4105

 DHL Air UK to expand with Airbus A330P2Fs

According to Airways Magazine, DHL Air UK is set to add its first Airbus-aircraft after signing a lease-agreement with the CaixaBank for the lease of five A330-300P2F (Passenger-to-Freighter) converted aircraft. Deliveries and entry into service hasn't been communicated yet.

UK Companies House records show the following five airframes are involved:

• M-MPSD (1408), currently at Dresden for conversion
• M-PVDM (1374), currently at Dresden for conversion
• M-SVGS (1338), currently at Dresden for conversion
• M-TKGK (1544), currently at Dresden for conversion
• M-WPCW (1157), currently at Dresden for conversion

DHL Air UK is currently operating a fleet of five Boeing B757-200SFs, ten B767-300F/BCF/BDSFs, and five B777Fs.

Airbus Updates No.4069

 

Mexico's mas to add first A330-300(P2F) in 4Q23

mas Airbus A330-300(P2F)© Airbus

20.07.2023 - 21:33 UTC

mas (Mexico) (M7, México City International) is planning to add its first two A330-300(P2F)s, with the first scheduled for delivery in the fourth quarter of 2023, Cargo Facts has reported.

EI-MAF (msn 1712), a 2016-model aircraft formerly operated in passenger configuration by Cebu Pacific Air (5J, Manila Ninoy Aquino International), is currently stored at Mobile Downtown, awaiting conversion. The ch-aviation fleets ownership module shows it is owned by Airbus Financial Services.

Chief Executive Luis Sierra told ch-aviation the airline was still negotiating the second aircraft and thus not ready to disclose its identity.

The ch-aviation fleets advanced module shows the Mexican cargo specialist currently operates two A330-200(P2F)s, one B767-200(SF), and two B767-300(ERBDSF)s. It has two A330-300(P2F)s on lease from CDB Aviation but both are sub-leased to mas's 49%-owned subsidiary, galistair (Malta) (GTR, Malta International).

mas did not confirm that the two incoming -300(P2F)s would be placed on its Mexican AOC.

Airbus Updates No.3966

 

Turkmenistan Airlines takes first A330-200(P2F)

Turkmenistan Airlines A330-200(P2F)© Turkmenistan Airlines

27.03.2023 - 03:01 UTC

Turkmenistan Airlines (T5, Ashgabat) took delivery of the first of two A330-200(P2F) ordered directly from Airbus in 2021, with the second due "in the near future".

9H-AJN (msn 810) was ferried from Lourdes/Tarbes via Turkmenbashi to Ashgabat on March 15-17, 2023, Flightradar24 ADS-B data shows. The 16.3-year-old aircraft, formerly operated in passenger configuration by Air China, was ferried under Airbus's 'AIB' code and still sporting a Maltese registration. It will become EZ-F429 once inducted onto the Turkmen register.

The state-owned carrier's second A330-200 is sistership 9H-AJQ (msn 816), which is currently undergoing P2F conversion at Dresden.

Turkmenistan Airlines currently operates four B737-700s, one B737-700(BBJ), eight B737-800s, four inactive B757-200s, four B777-200(LR)s, one Challenger 870, and three Il-76TDs.

Airbus Updates No.3836

 

Amazon Air Picks Airbus With Order For 10 Airbus A330P2Fs

Amazon Air today confirmed that it has signed a firm agreement regarding the leasing of 10 Airbus A330 aircraft. The cargo outfit is looking to ramp up shipping capacity amid robust e-commerce demand.

The right equipment

The A330-300P2F freighters will be on lease from worldwide aviation finance company Altavair. Airbus has noted that the aircraft are currently being transformed from passenger units to freighters by Elbe Flugzeugwerke (EFW), which has been scaling up its initiatives recently. Just this month, it revealed a new partnership with Turkish Technic for A330 conversions.

The Amazon Air units will be operated by Hawaiian Airlines. Notably, Hawaiian is familiar with the A330, having flown the type for over a decade.

Cargo had seen a substantial boom following the rise of the pandemic. While there have been signs of a slowdown with grounded aircraft and routes trimmed across the industry, significant growth potential still remains. As such, Amazon Air is keen to meet the requirements in this next chapter.

A mix of over 80 ATR 72, Boeing 737, and 767 aircraft are in action across the Amazon Air operation. However, these are all operated by other airlines such as Silver Airways, ASL Airlines, Atlas Air, Sun Country Airlines, and Air Transport International. Now, another type is joining the fold.

Airbus Updates No.3699

 

Asia Cargo Network eyes A321, A330 freighters

Illustration of Airbus A330-300F© Airbus

19.05.2022 - 03:47 UTC

Although Asia Cargo Network has tentatively agreed to add two P2F converted A321-200s, it will continue to monitor the current market environment, including fuel prices and the impact of the war in Ukraine, before finalising the deal, Chief Executive Marko Isaak told Cargo Facts.

The Singapore-based group, which controls World Cargo Airlines in Malaysia and Asia Cargo Airlines and Black Stone Airlines in Indonesia, could take the first A321 freighter in July 2022 and the second one in September. The group is also engaged in "serious negotiations" with an existing A330 operator in Asia to add its first converted widebody freighters, although Isaak did not provide any further details.

He added that the group will also grow its B737-800 freighter fleet, with around five set to join its fleet in the next two years. He did not specify on which AOC(s) they would be placed, however.

Malaysia's World Cargo Airlines (formerly Asia Cargo Express) recently doubled its B737-800(BCF) fleet to two units. It also operates one B737-300(F) and one B737-400(F), the ch-aviation fleets advanced module shows. In turn, Indonesia's Asia Cargo Airlines operates five B737-300(F)s and Black Stone Airlines - two units of the type. Isaak said the B737 Classic freighters continue to offer great economics for cargo runs between Indonesia's numerous islands.

The group's spokesperson did not respond to ch-aviation's query about its A321 and A330 freighter plans.

Although Asia Cargo Network is heavily centred on cargo operations, Black Stone Airlines plans to add up to four A330-900s for passenger charters, focused on the Hajj/Umrah operations.

Airbus Updates No.3803

 

Latvia's SmartLynx to add six A330-300P2Fs

SmartLynx Malta A330-300© SmartLynx

11.03.2022 - 09:24 UTC

SmartLynx Airlines (6Y, Riga) says it will lease six A330-300(P2F)s from Air Transport Services Group on six-year contracts with the first due to complete P2F conversion and deliver in 2023.

“The introduction of the A330-300 is a logical step and one which creates relevant synergies with the rest of our fleet – A330 Pax and A321F units – and as an aircraft which will see increased popularity in a post-Covid environment," Zygimantas Surintas, CEO of SmartLynx Airlines, said. "For us, the move comes as part of our fleet modernisation strategy providing greater capacity and efficiency and is another step towards SmartLynx Airlines becoming a leading global player in the air cargo marketplace.”

The jets will presumably be placed on the Latvian holdings' SmartLynx Airlines Malta (LYX, Malta Int'l) AOC which already includes five A330-300 preighters as well as one A321-200(P2F) and one A321-200(PCF). It also includes seven A320-200s and two A321-200s. The two A321Fs are wet-leased out to EAT Leipzig (QY, Leipzig/Halle) which uses them for DHL Express flights

Airbus Updates No.3798

 

ATSG increases A330P2F commitments

Air Transport Services Group has announced it will increase its commitments to A330P2Fs with additional conversion slots at EFW. Previously, the company announced it would convert 20 A330s but now it has said it will take nine more, so 29 in total. The first conversion is scheduled for mid-2023 and the final aircraft should be ready in 2027. The conversions will take place at EFW's sites at Dresden as well as China.

ATSG is a holding company, consisting of airlines, leasing- and maintenance companies. It owns ABX Air, Air Transport International and Omni Air, as well as lessor Cargo Aircraft Management.

Currently, the Group has a fleet of two A321s (to be converted into PCFs), four B757-200s, 26 B767-200s, 63 B767-300s and three B777-200s. Previously, ATSG also announced its plan to expand its B767-converted freighter fleet, as well as investing in adding

Airbus Updates No.3768

 

CDB Aviation Advances A330 P2F Strategy with New Conversion Order and Freighter Introduction in China

• Orders twelve more conversions from Elbe Flugzeugwerke GmbH (“EFW”), bringing the A330 P2F fleet to fourteen aircraft
• Launches the A330-300 P2F type in China, backed by new leases with Sichuan Airlines and Jiangxi Cargo Airlines
• Debuts first A330 P2F conversions to be performed in Shanghai, China, and Mobile, Alabama, U.S.A.
• Becomes the largest lessor of EFW-converted A330 P2Fs

SINGAPORE--(BUSINESS WIRE)--CDB Aviation, a wholly owned Irish subsidiary of China Development Bank Financial Leasing Co., Limited (“CDB Leasing”), appearing today on the sidelines of Singapore Air Show, detailed new developments in its A330 passenger-to-freighter (“A330 P2F”) strategy and related commercial activity.

Advancing its already leading position in the A330 P2F conversion segment, CDB Aviation committed to an additional twelve conversions with EFW, expanding its A330 P2F fleet to fourteen aircraft. Moreover, the lessor is on pace to launch the A330-300 P2F freighter type in China in 2022, with lease commitments from Sichuan Airlines and Jiangxi Cargo Airlines.

“We have strategically positioned our platform to be the A330 P2F program frontrunner among lessors,” commented Patrick Hannigan, CDB Aviation’s Chief Executive Officer, adding that the A330 P2F marked the lessor’s first entry into the air cargo space. “We’re very satisfied with this program’s progress and momentum to date and look forward to further expanding our freighter fleet in collaboration with our partners at Airbus, ST Engineering, and EFW.”

CDB Aviation was one of the first lessors to secure conversion commitments for the A330 P2F, contracting two initial conversions with EFW in November 2020. With this latest order, the company will become the largest lessor of EFW-converted A330 P2Fs, with a total of fourteen aircraft in its fleet.

“The A330 P2F continues to gain traction as the preferred next-generation type in the fast-growing Medium Widebody Freighter space. It is delivering to cargo operators the most advanced fly-by-wire technology, increased volumetric capacity for today’s less dense freight, reduced fuel consumption, a lower environmental footprint, and the benefits of Airbus fleet commonality,” added Hannigan.

“We are proud to have leading lessor CDB Aviation on board, growing its orders for A330 P2Fs,” said Andreas Sperl, EFW’s Chief Executive Officer. “The A330 P2F program is proving highly popular, and we now have over eighty aircraft on order. EFW is leading the overall A330 P2F program, which is a collaboration between ST Engineering, Airbus, and EFW. To ensure we can meet the rising demand for freighter conversions, EFW and ST Engineering are in the process of ramping up their conversion capacity.”

CDB Aviation’s first two A330 P2Fs are currently being converted in EFW’s facility in Dresden, Germany, and will be re-delivered to its launch operator, Mexico-based MasAir, in early 2022.

CDB Aviation has contracted three more placements with two new customers: Sichuan Airlines and Jiangxi Cargo Airlines.

Chengdu-based Sichuan Airlines has leased two A330-300 P2Fs, which will join the carrier’s existing freighter fleet of three A330-200Fs upon delivery in late 2022 and the middle of 2023. The lease transaction marks the first time that Sichuan Airlines will operate the A330-300 P2F type. These aircraft will provide the carrier with additional freighter capacity to meet the rapidly expanding cargo demand, further strengthening its transport and logistics business.

Jiangxi Cargo Airlines, a new Nanchang-based start-up cargo carrier, created through a joint venture between the Jiangxi Provincial Government and privately-owned Hongyuan Group, has leased one A330-300 P2F to be delivered in early 2023. Being the first cargo carrier owned and supported by the provincial government, Jiangxi Cargo Airlines sees the A330 P2F as the perfect fit for its future cargo strategy, providing a foothold for the airline to expand its market share.

“We’re delighted to welcome Sichuan Airlines and Jiangxi Cargo Airlines to our growing list of A330-300 P2F operators, marking the type’s first application in China,” said Peter Goodman, CDB Aviation’s Chief Marketing Officer. “We know the aircraft will be a superb addition to both these carriers as they grow their business to serve the country’s rapidly expanding air cargo demand.”

In 2022, CDB Aviation will expand its global conversion footprint by becoming the first customer for A330 P2F conversions to take place in the facilities of ST Engineering in Shanghai, China, and VT MAE in Mobile, Alabama, U.S.A. These conversion locations have been added to the existing A330 P2F conversion facilities of EFW in Dresden, Germany, and ST Engineering in Singapore. By the middle of 2022, the lessor plans to have aircraft converted simultaneously at three locations – in Dresden, Shanghai, and Mobile. EFW is a joint venture of ST Engineering and Airbus.

Airbus Updates No.3739

 

EFW hands-over 1st A330P2F to Altavair for MasAir Cargo

On 20 January, EFW handed over the first converted Airbus A330 to lessor Altavair, which in its turn plans to lease the aircraft to Mexican cargo carrier MasAir Cargo. Representatives of the airline were also present during the hand-over event of A330-200P2F EI-MYY (868), which was previously in use with Etihad as A6-EYQ.

In total, MasAir Cargo has signed leases for four A330P2Fs. Two A330-200P2Fs via lessor Altavair and two A330-300P2Fs via CDB Aviation Leasing. The remaining three aircraft should also be delivered this year. The airline will use the additional aircraft to expand its fleet which currently exists of one B767-200BDSF, one B767-300F and one B767-300ERBDSF.

Airbus Updates No.3557

 

UK's Titan Airways adds first A330-300(P2F)

Titan Airways (GEODIS livery) A330-300P2F© GEODIS

16.09.2021 - 01:55 UTC

Titan Airways (ZT, London Stansted) took delivery of its first A330-300(P2F) on August 27, 2021, and began operating the Airbus converted freighter exclusively on behalf of French forwarder GEODIS in early September.

G-EODS (msn 713) is a 15.7-year-old aircraft last operated in passenger configuration by AirAsia X through March 2020. The aircraft was subsequently acquired by Stratos and leased to GEODIS. It underwent conversion at Châteauroux airport and was delivered to London Stansted on August 27. Following test flights within the United Kingdom on September 2-4, it was deployed into revenue service on September 5, Flightradar24 ADS-B data shows.

GEODIS said the aircraft would operate between Amsterdam Schiphol, Chicago O'Hare, London Stansted, and Hong Kong Int'l for at least five years.

"Our AirDirect service has operated more than 650 air charter flights so far across Asia, Europe, North and Latin America in order to secure capacity for our customer shipments worldwide. The experience gained from these operations has led to the decision to charter our own GEODIS Freighter. This will provide our clients with a reliable schedule of flights, under our operational control, helping them overcome the significant logistical constraints that the market is currently enduring,” Executive Vice-President (Freight Forwarding) Eric Martin-Neuville said.

GEODIS has not had any aircraft operated exclusively on its behalf thus far.

For Titan Airways, the A330-300(P2F) is the first widebody aircraft since the retirement of the only B767-300(ER) in May 2020, the ch-aviation fleets history module shows. The British carrier operates two A320-200s, three A321-200s, one A321-200(P2F), two A321-200NX(LR), two B737-400(SF)s, and two B757-200s. Sister carrier Titan Airways Malta operates one A321-200 and one A321-200(P2F).

Airbus Updates No.3457

 

UK's Titan Airways to add first A330 freighter

AirAsia X Airbus A330-300© Airbus Industrie

19.07.2021 - 01:51 UTC

Titan Airways (ZT, London Stansted) is poised to add its first widebody freighter, an A330-300(P2F), for CMI operations for an undisclosed customer, Cargo Facts has reported.

EI-GTT (msn 713), a 15.6-year-old aircraft owned by Stratos, was ferried after conversion by Elbe Flugzeugwerke (EFW) from Dresden to Châteauroux on July 11, 2021, still in the livery of the former operator AirAsia X. Once repainted and re-registered in the UK, it will become G-EODS.

Titan Airways declined to comment concerning the aircraft's future operations, although DHL Express explicitly said it would not be operated on its behalf. The airline has yet to add the type to its Air Operator's Certificate (AOC) as of July 13.

The airline does not currently operate any widebody aircraft in either passenger or freighter configuration. Its fleet comprises two A320-200s, four A321-200s, two A321-200(P2F)s, two A321-200NX(LR)s, two B737-400(SF)s, and two B757-200s. Its only ever widebody, a B767-300(ER), was retired in May 2020, the ch-aviation fleets advanced module shows.

Airbus Updates No.3353

 

Mexico's Mas Air to add two A330-200(P2F)s

© Tis Meyer (PlanePics.org)

29.04.2021 - 06:54 UTC

Mas Air (M7, México City Int'l) has announced it signed an agreement with Altavair to dry-lease two P2F-converted A330-200s with deliveries scheduled for the first quarter of 2022. The Mexican carrier did not provide the identity of the two aircraft.

Mas Air said it was hoping to use the aircraft for ACMI operations. It selected the -200 variant over the A330-300(P2F) due to its longer range, which will permit its deployment on services to China, among other destinations.

The carrier previously told Cargo Facts that it was seeking to diversify its all-B767 fleet to include types with different range and payload specifications in order to better cater to diverse market needs.

The ch-aviation fleets advanced module shows that the Mexican cargo specialist, until 2018 owned by LATAM Airlines Group and known as LATAM Cargo Mexico, currently operates one B767-200(SF), one B767-300(ERBDSF), and one B767-300F on routes in Latin America and to the United States, as well as occasionally to Frankfurt Int'l.

Altavair owns twenty-six A330-200s, including sixteen it acquired in 2020 from Etihad Airways, the ch-aviation fleets ownership module shows. All 26 units are currently in storage. The lessor also owns a single A330-200F placed with Air Hong Kong.

Airbus Updates No.3001

 

Turkmenistan Airlines to order two A330 P2F freighters

Airbus A330-200F© Airbus

10.01.2021 - 22:26 UTC

Turkmenistan Airlines (T5, Ashgabat) is set to order two P2F-converted A330-200s from Airbus (AIB, Toulouse Blagnac) after President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedow signed the requisite decree.

A government resolution dated January 7 said management could now proceed with the signing of a final agreement. It added that the freighters would be used to help meet cargo capacity demand specified under the 2012-2030 national civil aviation roadmap. No delivery dates were specified.

In June last year, the Central Asian republic's government said it planned to acquire one B777-F from Boeing (BOE, Chicago O'Hare) through Aircraft Finance Germany GmbH. It is unknown if the contract was ever firmed.

At present, Turkmenistan Airlines' cargo fleet entails three Il-76TDs. Its passenger fleet is an all-Boeing affair entailing two B777-200(LR)s, three B737-700s, eight B737-800s, and four B757-200s. It also operates several other aircraft for the government.

Airbus Updates No1683

Atlas Air warms to A330P2F as B767 pool shrinks

Atlas Air Boeing 767-300© Atlas Air

05OCT2017

Atlas Air Worldwide Holdings (AAWH) is looking at adding A330P2Fs to its fleet given the dwindling pool of B767 aircraft available for similar conversions.

According to Air Cargo World, AAWH CEO and president Bill Flynn told an audience during the 2017 Cargo Facts Symposium: “At some point, we simply run out of 767 candidates for conversion. The A330-300 freighter shows a lot of promise.”

The ch-aviation aircraft database shows AAWH's Atlas Air (5Y, New York JFK) unit currently operates nine B767-200(F)s, four B767-300(ERBCF)s, seven B767-300(ERBDSF)s, and two B767-300(ERF)s. It also has five B767-300(ER)s all currently undergoing P2F conversions.

For its part, the A330-300P2F programme is being pioneered by Airbus and ST Aerospace subsidiary Elbe Flugzeugwerke with DHL Express its launch customer. Thus far, the global logistics specialist has six firm conversions lined up, the first two of which are expected to deliver towards year-end.