EFW gets CAAC nod for A320/A321P2F conversions, expands in China

Elbe Flugzeugwerke (EFW), a joint venture between ST Engineering and Airbus, has announced that the Supplemental Type Certification (STC) for its Airbus A320 and A321 Passenger-to-Freighter (P2F) conversion programmes has been validated by the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC).

With this validation, EFW can now provide operators of China-registered Airbus A320 and A321 aircraft streamlined access to its Original equipment manufacturer (OEM)- backed standard body freighter conversion programmes.

This milestone strengthens EFW’s expanding presence in the Chinese market. Since receiving CAAC approval for its A330P2F programme in 2023, the company has redelivered 19 converted A330 freighters to Chinese carriers. With regulatory clearance now secured for both standard body and widebody conversions, EFW is well-positioned to meet rising demand for efficient, high-quality freighter solutions in China, according to an official release from EFW.

“With CAAC’s approval of the STC for our A320/A321P2F programme, we can now offer the full suite of our conversion solutions for Chinese-registered aircraft, a major step in supporting the freight needs of the rapidly expanding Chinese market,” says Jordi Boto, CEO of EFW. "Amid strong market demand for Airbus freighter conversions, particularly with the A320P2Fs and A321P2Fs expected to play a crucial role in the Chinese and Southeast Asian markets, we look forward to providing more operators with our innovative conversion solutions tailored to both short- and long-haul routes.”

The converted A320 and A321 passenger-to-freighter aircraft lead their class in fuel efficiency and are the first in this segment to offer fully containerised upper and lower decks. Designed for lower operating costs and cross-crew commonality, they offer high operational flexibility, particularly for express carriers.

The A321P2F can carry over 28 tonnes of payload, while the A320P2F handles more than 21 tonnes. Both are ideally suited to replace ageing standard body freighters. As the only OEM-supported solution available, EFW’s programme delivers enhanced lifecycle value along with superior quality, reliability, and maintenance efficiency, the release added.

EFW has a global network of eight conversion sites, including an upcoming site in Okinawa, Japan, providing operators the flexibility of converting their Airbus aircraft at any of these eight locations.

In China, EFW has conversion sites in Shanghai and Chengdu for the A330P2F programme, and conversion sites in Guangzhou and Tianjin for the A321P2F programme. In addition to China, EFW has secured A320P2F and A321P2F validations in key regions including Europe, the U.S., Brazil, Japan, Malaysia, and India.