Elbe Flugzeugwerke (EFW), the Germany-based joint venture between ST Engineering and Airbus, has recently received supplemental type certificate (STC) validation from Civil Aviation Administration of China for its Airbus A330 passenger-to-freighter (P2F) conversion program. 

EFW says the STC approval will help the company further strengthen the relationship with its partners in China. 

Additionally, EFW says the STC will allow its customers operating A330 aircraft registered in China to undergo conversion work more easily, both at MRO sites in China and outside of the country.

EFW recently redelivered the first A330 freighter converted in China to its customer CDB Aviation for leasing to Sichuan Airlines. The A330P2F aircraft was converted at ST Engineering’s airframe facility in Shanghai. 

“Offering conversions in China to serve the high demand in this growing market was an important strategic decision for EFW,” says Jordi Boto, CEO of EFW. 

Cargo demand has increased dramatically due to the pandemic, resulting in a boom in cargo conversions. Currently, there is strong market demand for Airbus freighter conversions, and A330P2F conversions are increasingly being considered for the medium- to widebody segment.

According to Aviation Week’s 2023 Fleet & MRO Forecast, more than 140 A330 freighter aircraft are expected to enter into service over the next decade. 

In order to meet the increasing demand for freighter conversion of Airbus aircraft and to ramp up the total conversion capacity for Airbus P2F conversion programs, EFW and ST Engineering have established nine conversion sites worldwide.

The conversion sites in China are located at Shanghai and Chengdu for A330P2F conversion, and Guangzhou and Tianjin for A321P2F conversion, which is a third-party conversion site managed by Haite.