DHL Express and ST Aerospace announced an extension of their partnership to launch a new cargo conversion of the mid-range, widebody Airbus A330 aircraft. DHL awarded a second tranche A330-300P2F (Passenger-to-Freighter) conversion contract to ST Aerospace’s subsidiary, Elbe Flugzeugwerke (EFW), which is jointly owned with Airbus Group.
This follows the launch contract for four A330-300P2F conversions that was also awarded by DHL Express in July last year. The first aircraft under the launch contract is currently undergoing conversion at EFW’s Dresden-based facilities, and is on track to be redelivered by the end of 2017. Under the latest agreement, EFW has contracted a further four Airbus A330-300 conversion slots to DHL together with options for an additional 10 conversions.
“DHL is delighted to be expanding this pioneering conversion program with ST Aero, EFW and Airbus and securing the option to add more units to our fleet in future. We believe the A330-300P2F, with its favorable payload and range metrics, will address an important demand segment within the air cargo market that is not currently served by any other aircraft type. It will further strengthen the global air network of DHL Express and help us to achieve even greater efficiencies in our aviation operations,” said Geoff Kehr, Senior Vice President, Global Air Fleet Management, DHL Express.
“We are very proud to further our partnership with our launch customer, DHL Express, with another A330-300P2F contact even before the first redelivery from the first contract has been made,” said Mr Lim Serh Ghee, President of ST Aerospace. “This reflects the confidence that DHL has in our A330P2F program and the viability of our conversion solution, which leverages the deep operational and engineering expertise that ST Aerospace has accumulated over the years as an integrated solutions provider.”
The A330P2F conversion program, launched in 2012, is a collaboration between ST Aerospace, Airbus and EFW. The A330P2F program includes two versions – the A330-200P2F and the larger A330-300P2F. DHL Express is EFW’s first customer for the A330-300P2F conversion program. The first aircraft under the DHL Express A330-300P2F program is currently undergoing conversion at EFW’s Dresden-based facilities, while work is set to begin on a second aircraft at an ST Aerospace engineering facility in Singapore. The first two aircraft are scheduled to be redelivered by the end of 2017.
Source: Deutsche Post DHL Group
