newstodate.aero
Feb 16, 2015 (newstodate): Is Airbus going to start its freighter conversion programs for the A320 and A330 aircraft?
In February 2012, Airbus, ST Aerospace and EADS EFW signed an MoU for a strategic partnership to develop the A330 Passenger-to-Freighter, P2F, conversion program.
And in December 2014, Egyptair signed a contract with EFW for conversion of two of its Airbus A330-200 passenger aircraft into cargo versions, with options for a further two conversions.
The first of the two aircraft conversions on firm order would be delivered by medio 2018, with the second to follow by the end of the year.
At the same time, a reopening of the Airbus A320 P2F program was also on the agenda.
On January 7, 2015, Wolfgang Schmid, EFW A330 A320 P2F program manager, told newstodate that an announcement of the launch of the A320 P2F program was to follow shortly.
-It is almost NOW. Very, very close, he said
Since then, however, nothing has been heard of the Airbus A330 and A320 freighter conversion projects.
On February 12, 2015, newstodate again called on Mr Schmnid for an update.
And the answer on February 13, 2015, was less optimistic:
-You are right. The process is unfortunately postponed again. I do not know the reason, said Mr Schmid.
In June 2011, Airbus took the airfreight industry by surprise by scrapping plans, announced in April 2007, for conversion of Airbus A320 passenger aircraft to freighters, claiming the that residual value of the aircraft was still too high to render the conversion program feasible.
Airbus originally anticipated about 400 Airbus Single Aisle aircraft to be converted from 2012 to 2026.
In February 2012, Airbus, ST Aerospace and EADS EFW signed an MoU for a strategic partnership to develop the A330 Passenger-to-Freighter, P2F, conversion program.
And in December 2014, Egyptair signed a contract with EFW for conversion of two of its Airbus A330-200 passenger aircraft into cargo versions, with options for a further two conversions.
The first of the two aircraft conversions on firm order would be delivered by medio 2018, with the second to follow by the end of the year.
At the same time, a reopening of the Airbus A320 P2F program was also on the agenda.
On January 7, 2015, Wolfgang Schmid, EFW A330 A320 P2F program manager, told newstodate that an announcement of the launch of the A320 P2F program was to follow shortly.
-It is almost NOW. Very, very close, he said
Since then, however, nothing has been heard of the Airbus A330 and A320 freighter conversion projects.
On February 12, 2015, newstodate again called on Mr Schmnid for an update.
And the answer on February 13, 2015, was less optimistic:
-You are right. The process is unfortunately postponed again. I do not know the reason, said Mr Schmid.
In June 2011, Airbus took the airfreight industry by surprise by scrapping plans, announced in April 2007, for conversion of Airbus A320 passenger aircraft to freighters, claiming the that residual value of the aircraft was still too high to render the conversion program feasible.
Airbus originally anticipated about 400 Airbus Single Aisle aircraft to be converted from 2012 to 2026.