Freighter aircraft
… / A330P2F Passenger to Freighter

A330P2F passenger-to-freighter conversion

Highly capable and modern

The large number of passenger A330s in service provides a source of aircraft to support the freighter conversion for many years

The A330P2F programme offers a passenger-to-freighter conversion opportunity for A330s that have completed their useful operational service as passenger jetliners. 

Both the A330-200 and A330-300 versions are eligible for the P2F conversion.  The longer-fuselage A330-300P2F is particularly suited for integrators and express carriers, resulting from its high volumetric payload capability with lower-density cargo, while the A330-200P2F is optimised for higher-density freight and longer-range performance.

As a modern aircraft with advanced Airbus technology that includes fly-by-wire flight controls, the A330 offers a highly capable platform for conversion into a freighter.  More than 1,100 A330s have been ordered, with over 800 delivered to date since the A330’s service entry in 1994 – providing a large source of aircraft to support the conversion programme for many years.

An international team

Development of the A330P2F is being performed with the resources of ST Aerospace of Singapore, the EADS EFW sister company in Airbus’ EADS parent company, and Airbus, under terms of an agreement finalised during May 2012. ST Aerospace provides the resources of a proven engineering services company, while EADS EFW has demonstrated its expertise in aircraft conversions, including the A300P2F and A310P2F.

The A330P2F’s engineering development is led by ST Aerospace, working with Airbus and EADS EFW.  Programme lead responsibility during the industrial phase – which is to begin during 2012 – will be handled by EADS EFW. Most of the conversions will take place at EADS EFW facilities in Dresden, Germany, with the potential for additional capacity at ST Aerospace.

Complementary to the A330-200F

The A330P2F is complementary to Airbus’ new-production A330-200F freighters, as the converted aircraft address a different price-point and end-users, based on separate operational requirements. 

The global market has already proven it can support both new-production freighters and converted freighter products using the same aircraft platform as the basis – if the platform is right, as is the case with the A330.

Market demand and performance

Of the approximately 2,700 freighters required during the next 20 years, about half of the total demand will be required in the mid-sized segment of the A330 – including some 900 conversions.  As the mid-sized freighter segment has always been the largest in terms of demand, the replacement cycle is continuous.

The A330-300P2F will carry up to 60 metric tonnes over a distance of 2,200 nautical miles, or 61 tonnes to a range of 3,600 nautical miles for the higher MTOW (maximum takeoff weight) variants.  The A330-200P2F has a payload capacity of up to 59 tonnes on ranges to 4,000 nautical miles.