SINGAPORE—Elbe Flugzeugwerke (EFW), a joint venture between Airbus and ST Engineering, has announced that it has secured a contract with Asia Pacific Aviation Leasing Group (APAL) to convert an Airbus A330 passenger aircraft into a freighter. The conversion is scheduled to be completed by the second quarter of 2026, with work to be performed at an unspecified EFW facility.
This transaction marks APAL's first undertaking in freighter conversions, expanding its portfolio in cargo aircraft. APAL's CEO, Hong Wei Zhao, emphasized the importance of EFW's expertise in meeting the specific needs of the Chinese cargo market and stated plans to dedicate additional resources to this sector.
In addition, this deal follows a similar contract EFW signed earlier this year with Hengqin Winglet Aircraft Technology. Founded in 2016, APAL is a Hong Kong-based aircraft lessor with a fleet that includes Airbus A320s, A321, and A330-300s, serving various leasing markets in the region.
