CDB Aviation has contracted Elbe Flugzeugwerke (EFW) to perform the passenger-to-freighter (P2F) conversion of two A330-300s next year.

The aircraft will be available for lease to airline customers from early 2022, according to CDB Aviation, a subsidiary of China Development Bank Financial Leasing.

The A330-300 P2F conversion programme marks CDB Aviation’s entry into freighter conversion. The company noted the “long-term growth potential” of the medium widebody freighter market.

EFW chief executive officer Andreas Sperl said: “We are very excited to have CDB Aviation on board for investing in A330P2F Airbus converted freighters. We look forward to a prosperous long-term relationship and to support the fleet growth in this promising market segment.”

CDB Aviation chief executive officer Patrick Hannigan commented: “We are seeing an increasing interest from our customers for medium-sized freighters, as they look to take advantage of record-high freighter utilisation, rapidly growing e-commerce demand, and higher cargo yields.

“With 12,000 Airbus cockpit aircraft in service, the A330-300 P2F will seamlessly slot into the fleets of A320 family, A330 and A350 operators, and will bring a new paradigm of efficiency with 23 per cent more cargo volume.”