DHL Express has signed a contract with Elbe Flugzeugwerke (EFW), the joint venture between ST Aerospace and Airbus Group, for the conversion of one Airbus A330-300P2F (passenger-to-freighter).
Under the agreement, EFW will convert four Airbus A330-300 passenger aircraft to a 26-pallet cargo configuration, capable of carrying up to 61 metric tonnes of payload. The first aircraft will be inducted into EFW’s Dresden-based facilities in July 2016, scheduled for redelivery to DHL Express by end 2017.
“The A330-300P2F conversion will address an important requirement within our global aviation fleet for mid-range, high volume cargo aircraft,” said Geoff Kehr, Senior Vice President, Global Air Fleet Management of DHL Express. “It will bring added flexibility and capacity to our operations, and will further support our aims of improving fuel efficiency for every kilo of cargo carried within our air network.”
The A330P2F conversion programme, launched in 2012 is a collaboration between DHL Express is EFW’s first customer for the A330-300P2F conversion programme, while a launch contract with Egyptair Cargo was secured in December 2014, for the A330-200P2F conversion programme.