Elbe Flugzeugwerke (EFW), the conversion center created through a joint venture between Airbus and ST Engineering, has received six orders for its A321 passenger-to-flight (P2F) from SmartLynx Airlines.
The airline, one of the first A321 P2F operators worldwide, will increase its fleet, which is typically operated for various customers on a leasing basis. Smartlynx currently operates one A321P2F aircraft, which was converted by EFW.
Deliveries are scheduled for 2022 and 2023, and all of these aircraft will fly in Europe. Work on the aircraft will be carried out at ST Engineering’s conversion centers in Singapore and China. The latter was recently established with a view to meeting the growing demand for aircraft-to-freighter conversion work. EFW plans to reach a conversion capacity of 60 units per year by 2024.
Zygimantas Surintas, CEO of Smartlynx Airlines, said: «We are delighted to be working with EFW to achieve our goal of becoming the largest A321 freighter operator. On the operational advantages of the model, he added: «It is the most fuel-efficient and environmentally friendly narrow-body freighter.
«We take these orders as a seal of approval for our A321P2F,» said EFW CEO Andreas Sperl. «We are confident that our P2F programs (A320 and A321) will add value to the operations of customers like SmartLynx.»
The A321P2Fs are the only aircraft in their category to offer container space on both the main deck (up to 14 positions) and the lower deck (10 positions).
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