DHL Express has become the first operator to take delivery of the A330-300 Passenger-to-Freighter converted aircraft from Elbe Flugzeugwerke, the joint venture between ST Aerospace and Airbus.
The delivery, which took place at EFW’s freighter conversion facilities in Dresden, follows the successful completion of test flights in October and awarding of the Supplemental Type Certificate by the European Aviation Safety Agency in November.
DHL Express has firm orders for eight A330-300P2F units in total, with additional options to receive another ten.
“DHL Express is very excited to be bringing the first A330-300 P2F into commercial operation within our international air network,” said Geoff Kehr, senior vice president, global air fleet management, DHL Express.
“The first aircraft is scheduled to strengthen our Asia Pacific air network, bringing added capacity and increased efficiency to a market where we are seeing dynamic express volume growth.”
ST Aerospace, as the programme and technical lead for the engineering development phase, is responsible for applying for the STCs from EASA and the US Federal Aviation Administration.
Airbus contributes to the programme with OEM data and certification support, while EFW leads the industrialisation phase and marketing for the freighter conversion programme.
“We congratulate DHL on the delivery of its first A330-300P2F.
“We are confident that this new-generation and efficient mid-sized freighter will bring significant benefits to DHL’s international express operations,” said Christopher Buckley, Airbus executive vice president, sales.
“With its large internal volume and unbeatable economics, the A330-300P2F allows operators to step up capacity in markets where existing mid-sized freighters are becoming too small.”