The first A321 freighter converted by Elbe Flugzeugwerke (EFW) has taken its first flight in the colors of launch customer Qantas Freight. Lessor Vallair confirmed to Cargo Facts that delivery to Qantas is expected in the next couple of weeks.
The first A321 passenger-to-freighter conversion performing a test flight in Singapore prior to delivery to Qantas Freight. https://t.co/rhbLRFdWtM © Jun You pic.twitter.com/H8AkWyruDe
— JetPhotos (@JetPhotos) August 31, 2020
The aircraft (835, ex-Onur Air) will be operated by Qantas for Australia Post from October, under a seven-year agreement signed in August 2019.
The A321P2F was recently certified by the FAA at the end of July, while the initial STC was obtained from EASA in February.
Qantas, which could add up to three A321Fs, has an agreement on another aircraft with Keystone Holdings, a 50-50 joint venture between ST Engineering and SJ Aviation Capital. That aircraft is expected to be introduced by the end of 2021.
EFW’s second A321F (1238, ex-Thomas Cook Airlines) is also nearing redelivery. Unit 1238 was inducted for conversion in January and will be leased from BBAM to U.K.-based Titan Airways.
Meanwhile, it won’t be long before 321 Precision Conversions’ own A321PCF (891, ex-Air Mediterranee) takes to the skies; that aircraft was recently completed and started taxi and engine tests in July in Orlando (SFB). Redelivery is expected by the end of 2020 to Vallair, which will lease it to an unidentified customer.
