Elbe Flugzeugwerke (EFW), the joint venture between ST Engineering and Airbus, has secured a contract with Hengqin Winglet Aircraft Technology to convert A330 passenger aircraft into freighters. The agreement marks the Chinese lessor’s first participation in EFW’s A330 passenger-to-freighter (P2F) programme and strengthens EFW’s footprint in one of the world’s fastest-growing aviation markets.
Under the deal, conversion work will take place at EFW’s partner facility in China, with modifications scheduled to begin in mid-2026. Technical planning and certification support will be provided by EFW’s headquarters in Dresden, Germany.
The A330P2F programme addresses the medium widebody freighter segment, offering operators enhanced payload capabilities and improved fuel efficiency compared to older generation freighters. For lessors and airlines, the conversion extends the useful life of existing passenger aircraft assets while meeting growing air cargo demand.
China has emerged as a primary driver of global freighter demand, with express logistics operators and e-commerce companies requiring additional air freight capacity to serve cross-border trade routes. The country’s sustained cargo growth has prompted both operators and leasing firms to expand their dedicated freighter fleets.
Hengqin Winglet brings aircraft leasing, trading, and technical management expertise to the partnership. The company’s decision to pursue A330 conversions reflects broader industry trends toward modernising cargo fleets with more efficient equipment.
“This collaboration with EFW allows us to transform our A330 aircraft into state-of-the-art freighters,” said James Huang, CEO of Hengqin Winglet. “The conversion programme delivers the performance and economics our customers require in today’s competitive cargo market.”
EFW has positioned the A330P2F as a cornerstone of its converted freighter portfolio, complementing its A320 and A321 P2F programmes for smaller aircraft. The medium widebody segment serves routes requiring greater capacity than narrowbody freighters but more flexibility than larger cargo aircraft.
Jordi Boto, CEO of EFW, welcomed the new customer relationship. “The A330P2F represents the future of the medium-sized air freighter segment. We look forward to supporting Hengqin Winglet as they build their converted freighter fleet.”
The agreement adds to EFW’s growing list of Chinese customers and underscores the region’s importance to the conversion market. With e-commerce volumes continuing to expand and express delivery networks requiring dedicated air capacity, demand for converted freighters is expected to remain strong across the Asia-Pacific region.
