The rise of A321 freighters: two years later

Almost two years after the first flight and certification of the first freighter-converted A321F, two programs have completed a total of eight aircraft, with at least another eight to ten set to exit conversion and a third program expecting certification by the end of 2022. The first A321 conversion took to the sky in the very early days of the pandemic in January 2020, with Elbe Flugzeugwerke (EFW) receiving its supplemental type certificate (STC) from the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) in February. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) validated that STC a few months later. 321 Precision Conversions obtained the STC for its A321-200PCF conversion from the FAA in April 2021 and redelivered the prototype aircraft (891, ex-Air Mediterranee) to Vallair shortly afterward. As of Feb. 15, 2022, there were seven A321-200Fs in service, consisting of six EFW -200P2Fs and one Precision -200PCF, along with a recently redelivered EFW conversion that has yet to enter into service: There are a couple of points that should be noted: With the exception of unit 3504, all of the A321Fs were all built from 1998 through 2001; Qantas is the only operator with V2500 engines so far; and All seven of EFW’s conversions were carried out at the ST Engineering facility in Singapore (XSP), while 321 Precision Conversions’ unit was converted at the Avocet facility in Sanford (SFB). EFW, a joint venture between Airbus and ST Engineering, has steadily increased its output for A321P2Fs to address customer demand by adding conversion lines in Guangzhou (CAN) and San Antonio (SAT). Since its original certification, A321P2Fs have been accepted by a variety of customers. The largest current customer, BBAM, announced eighteen slots with EFW in August 2021. The San Francisco-based company has already leased two units to Titan Airways and one to Lufthansa . Other known customers with A321P2F conversions on order with EFW include: Castlelake , Titan Airways , Fuyo General Lease and Vallair. Meanwhile, 321 Precision Conversions, a joint venture between Air Transport Services Group (ATSG) and Precision Aircraft Solutions, will soon begin carrying out its A321PCF conversions at the HAECO facility in Xiamen (XMN) — its first site outside the U.S. — adding to the Avocet facility at SFB, the PEMCO facility in Tampa (TPA) and the HAECO Americas facility in Lake City (LCQ). Precision’s known A321PCF conversion orders include: two from Cross Ocean Partners; four from a joint venture between Aerovista and Petrus Aviation ; six from a joint venture between Greenwich Highland Aviation and Zetland Capital Partners; and at least three from Cargo Aircraft Management (CAM) . The following table lists all the A321-200s that Cargo Facts believes are either in conversion or are destined for conversion: As the table above shows, with six aircraft in conversion, SmartLynx is establishing itself as a frontrunner and will operate the largest quantity of A321Fs, at least based on current known orders. Four of those are on lease from GTLK Europe, while two are from Cross Ocean Partners . The carrier had previously told Cargo Facts that its target was to have eight A321Fs by the end of 2022. Although there are several more units with V2500 engines on the list, the CFM56 engine continues to account for the majority of the A321-200s currently being converted or scheduled for induction. In terms of the ages of the aircraft being selected for conversion, there is now a much broader range, varying from 1998- to 2008-vintage. The conversion sites have also grown in number and diversified, with various lines operating in Singapore, China and the U.S. Lastly, there will soon be a third STC holder, with Sine Draco expecting certification of its A321-200SDF by yearend. The company inducted its conformity aircraft in Tucson (TUS) in October 2021. Cargo Facts EMEA will take place LIVE May 9-11 in Dubai. Learn more and register.

The rise of A321 freighters: two years later

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