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Airbus to expand freighter conversion lines to U.S., China

Wednesday, October 20, 2021 at 03:03 PM ET

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An Airbus A330-300 passenger-to-freighter plane converted for DHL before application of paint and logo. EFW

Key Takeaways:

Airbus, through its EFW joint venture, is significantly expanding its A321 and A330 passenger-to-freighter (P2F) conversion capacity.
This expansion includes opening new conversion lines in the U.S. (San Antonio for A321, and general U.S. for A330) and China (for A330), aiming to triple annual output to about 60 converted aircraft by 2024.
The initiative is driven by robust demand from express delivery and cargo operators, with conversion slots for both aircraft types already heavily booked through mid-2024 or beyond.
The A321 P2F is particularly anticipated due to its superior fuel efficiency, quick loading capabilities with lower-deck containers, and ample supply of available aircraft.

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Editor’s Note: This article originally appeared on FreightWaves.com.

Eric is the Air Cargo Market Editor at FreightWaves. An award-winning business journalist with extensive experience covering the logistics sector, Eric spent nearly two years as the Washington, D.C., correspondent for Automotive News, where he focused on regulatory and policy issues surrounding autonomous vehicles, mobility, fuel economy and safety. He has won two regional Gold Medals from the American Society of Business Publication Editors for government coverage and news analysis, and was voted best for feature writing and commentary in the Trade/Newsletter category by the D.C. Chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists. As associate editor at American Shipper Magazine for more than a decade, he wrote about trade, freight transportation and supply chains. Eric is based in Portland, Oregon. He can be reached for comments and tips at ekulisch@freightwaves.com