CDB Aviation has partnered with Elbe Flugzeugwerke (EFW) for the passenger-to-freighter (P2F) conversion of two Airbus A330-300 aircraft in 2021.
CDB Aviation, a wholly owned Irish subsidiary of China Development Bank Financial Leasing (CDB Leasing), said that the aircraft will be available for lease from early 2022 after conversion by Germany-based EFW, a joint venture between ST Engineering and Airbus.
A spokesperson for the lessor said that the A330-300 P2F program marks CDB Aviation’s first entry into freighter conversion, “advancing the lessor’s strategic efforts to deliver ever-more customized fleet solutions to customers, while tapping the long-term growth potential of the medium widebody freighter market”.
The A330 P2Fs are part of the existing fleet of 228 aircraft, in addition to the lessor’s further commitments for 150 in-demand, next-generation technology aircraft.
“We are seeing an increasing interest from our customers for medium-sized freighters, as they look to take advantage of record-high freighter utilization, rapidly growing e-commerce demand, and higher cargo yields,” said CDB Aviation chief executive Patrick Hannigan.
“We look forward to working with EFW on converting our highly efficient A330-300 aircraft into the next generation of medium widebody freighters that our customers can use to meet the burgeoning international and regional air freight demand.”
The medium widebody freighter segment is today comprised of over 600 aircraft, served primarily by aging twin-jet aircraft, such as the Boeing 767F and Airbus A300F, which have an average age of 22 years.
The A330-300 P2F will bring next generation technology and efficiency to this segment. With growing express cargo demand and declining cargo densities, the A330-300 P2F offers more volumetric space than older freighters in this category, in line with what cargo operators and freight forwarders are seeking.
“With 12,000 Airbus cockpit aircraft in service, the A330-300 P2F will seamlessly slot into the fleets of A320 Family, A330, and A350 operators, and will bring a new paradigm of efficiency with 23% more cargo volume,” added Hannigan.
EFW chief executive Andreas Sperl said: “We are very excited to have CDB Aviation on board for investing in A330P2F Airbus converted freighters. We look forward to a prosperous long-term relationship and to support the fleet growth in this promising market segment.”
Concluded Hannigan: “As a major lessor of passenger A330s, it is a natural evolution of our portfolio to be able to offer our customers the A330-300 P2F. Our belief is that the A330-300 P2F is the exact type of medium widebody aircraft that airlines and cargo operators require to meet cargo demand near-term and into the future.”
