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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, plans to triple its aircraft freighter conversion output for A321 and A330 models to 60 per year by 2024.
This expansion involves opening new conversion lines in the U.S. (San Antonio for A321 by December, and for A330 in 2022) and China (for A330 in 2022).
The expansion is a response to rapidly growing demand from cargo operators, with EFW's current conversion slots booked through mid-2024 for A321s and 2026 for A330s.
The A321 freighter is highly anticipated for its superior fuel efficiency, ability to carry small containers, and ample supply of passenger aircraft feedstock due to pandemic impacts.

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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