A330 conversions gain traction with Turkmenistan duo

Turkmenistan Airlines has ordered two A330-200P2F conversions from Elbe Flugzeugwerke (EFW), becoming the second customer of the type [FATs 005904-5905]. [caption id="attachment_415266" align="alignright" width="550"] The two freighters will be the first Airbus aircraft for the country. (Photo/Airbus)[/caption] While the induction dates are not yet known at this point, the redeliveries are scheduled for 2022, according to Airbus. Specific aircraft have not yet been identified, although hundreds of A330-200s are currently parked around the world. The deal is the first for any Airbus aircraft in the country, and was sealed in a virtual signing ceremony Jan. 18 between Airbus and the airline’s chairman, according to Turkmenistan’s civil aviation agency. Since the A330P2F program was launched in 2012, EFW has completed and redelivered nine A330 conversions, the majority of them -300P2Fs to launch customer DHL Express. The only operator for the -200P2F so far is EgyptAir, which converted three of its own passenger frames and may be looking at more . To date, Turkmenistan Airlines’ cargo operation has prioritized the use of capacity available in the bellyhold of its Boeing passenger fleet of 777-200LR, 757-200 and 737NG aircraft. Turkmenistan’s fleet also includes a trio of Il-76TD Soviet-era freighters, two of which have flown within the past month, and a third that last flew in September of 2020, according to flight data from AirNav. Ahead of the freighter introduction, Turkmenistan Airlines has also invested in modernizing the cargo facilities at its Ashgabat (ASB) hub with electric pallet jacks to facilitate loading and unloading. The 17,100-square-meter facility is the largest air cargo warehouse in Turkmenistan, and one of the largest in the region, according to the airline’s website. In June 2020, the Turkmen government had looked at acquiring a 777F , as part of a plan to develop the country’s cargo transportation sector. Cargo Facts is not currently aware of any firm commitments to lease or purchase a 777F, and the airline could not be reached for comment on whether the A330-200P2Fs represent a change of plans, or a complement to an eventual 777F acquisition. EFW had told Cargo Facts toward the end of 2020 that it was seeing “very reasonable” prices for A330 feedstock and a rise in interest in the -200P2F, possibly because of attractive feedstock and the longer range of the -200. The level of interest is now more or less equal between the -200P2F and the -300P2F, according to EFW. The A330P2F program has now gained three new customers within the past twelve months: Stratos, CDB Aviation and Turkmenistan Airlines. Other carriers known to be considering A330 conversions include Turkey’s MNG Airlines and ULS Airlines Cargo. Uzbekistan Airways, Turkmenistan Airlines’ Central Asian neighbor, has two 767-300BCFs.

A330 conversions gain traction with Turkmenistan duo

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