China leads transition to A330P2F conversions

With about a third of all A330P2Fs EFW has redelivered to date flying under a B- registration, China is leading the way in adopting the new generation of Airbus medium-widebody conversions. Chinese carriers operate sixteen A330-300P2Fs and -200P2Fs — more than in any other country — while Boeing freighter conversions continue to see strong demand. [caption id="attachment_57145697" align="aligncenter" width="1761"] Air China Cargo has taken redelivery of three A330-200P2Fs. (Courtesy/Air China)[/caption] Overall, 270 Airbus and Boeing freighter aircraft were in active service across nineteen operators in China, including Hong Kong, as of Sept. 15, according to a Cargo Facts analysis. The emergence of factory-built aircraft and conversion options has expedited the retirement of previous-generation freighters, with only 116 of the 270 in-service freighters consisting of 747-400Fs, A300Fs, 757-200Fs and 737 Classics. The 757-200F accounted for nearly 54% of these previous-generation freighters with sixty-two operating with four carriers, while only thirty-four 737 Classics were in service with four carriers, and seventeen 747-400Fs were operating with five airlines. Air Hong Kong operated the remaining three active A300-600Fs for DHL. Rise of A330 conversions Air Hong Kong, which operates the largest Airbus freighter fleet in the Asia-Pacific region, led all China-based carriers with nine DHL-owned A330-300P2Fs and is the largest operator of the type worldwide. DHL began placing A330s with Air Hong Kong in 2020 to replace the older A300-600Fs it had in operation with the Cathay Pacific subsidiary. That transition has accelerated in the past two years and Air Hong Kong will likely move to an A330-only fleet in 2025. Air Hong Kong also operates two production A330-200Fs for DHL. Air Hong Kong remained the only operator of converted A330s in China until Sichuan Airlines began flying its first A330-300P2F (937, ex-SmartLynx) in 2023 on lease from CDB Aviation. The second-largest Chinese operator of A330 freighters, Sichuan also has three production A330-200Fs and recently took delivery of a second ex-SmartLynx sister ship (954) from CDB Aviation in July. [caption id="attachment_57145695" align="aligncenter" width="2560"] Capital Airlines operates one of each EFW A330P2F conversion type. (Courtesy/Airbus)[/caption] This year, two more Chinese carriers have added A330 conversions. HNA Group subsidiary Capital Airlines became a freighter operator at the beginning of the year when it put into service a 2008-vintage A330-300P2F (908, ex-SmartLynx) on lease from CDB Aviation. The airline then doubled its Airbus widebody freighter fleet in June when it started flying its first A330-200P2F (785, ex-Air China). Air China Cargo was the first China-based carrier to introduce the A330-200P2F, beginning operations with a 2007-vintage unit (860) in April. That aircraft was the first of eight A330-200P2F conversions Air China Cargo ordered with EFW in 2023. All eight are ex-Air China aircraft that will undergo conversion at the AMECO facility in Chengdu (CTU). One more (867) entered service in July, while the next unit (873) had completed conversion but had not begun flying by Sept. 15. 777F fleet approaches 50 The number of new large-widebody freighter options remains limited. Production of the 747-8F concluded in 2023 and Airbus’ A350F and Boeing’s 777-8F won’t start delivering until at least 2026, while 777 conversions are experiencing certification delays. Like many operators globally, China-based carriers have opted to order more 777 production freighters over the past couple of years to minimize operational costs and renew or grow their fleets. Boeing has delivered eleven 777Fs to Chinese customers since the beginning of 2023, with forty-six now in service with five operators. China Southern Cargo and China Cargo Airlines have set the pace for 777F fleet growth : The two carriers accounted for more than 50% of the units registered in the country as of Sept. 15. In the case of China Cargo, the airline has used new 777Fs to replace two 747-400Fs as well as older 777Fs. [caption id="attachment_57145698" align="aligncenter" width="1857"] China Postal Airlines is the country's latest 777F operator. (Courtesy/Luxcargo Handling)[/caption] After pausing for almost a year, Boeing resumed delivering 777Fs to China with the second and third of five units that Air China Cargo had ordered in 2021. The carrier now operates eleven of the type. The newest 777F operator is China Postal Airlines, which took delivery of two in 2023. Central Airlines added a second used 777F in 2023 to operate on behalf of Chinese forwarder Yun Express and will soon become the first China-based carrier to provide CMI services for DHL . Two DHL-owned 777Fs are expected to join Central’s fleet by yearend. The carrier may also begin operating its first 777-300ERSF by 2026. Another Chinese carrier may join the list of 777F operators in 2025. Suparna Airlines, an HNA Group subsidiary, plans to begin retiring its 747-400Fs this year and add up to ten 777Fs by 2027. 737NGs overtake Classics A year ago, China was the second-largest domicile of active 737NG freighters, behind the United States. However, China Postal’s addition of seven units in 2024, along with the exit of DHL CMI arrangements by iAero Airways and Mesa Airlines in the U.S., helped propel China into first place, with forty-four 737-800Fs and one 737-700BDSF. The number of NG freighters has also exceeded that of Classics, with only nine 737-400Fs and twenty-five 737-300Fs flying as of Sept.15. Not including China Postal, which still seeks more 737-800BCFs , six other carriers operate the Boeing next-generation narrowbody freighter. The latest entrant was Xiamen Airlines, which received its first unit in January for new subsidiary Air Road Logistics . [caption id="attachment_57145736" align="aligncenter" width="1152"] Xiamen Airlines began flying its first 737-800BCF for subsidiary Air Road Logistics in early 2024. (Courtesy/Boeing)[/caption] After obtaining its AOC from the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) in August 2022 to support the logistics division of its parent, Chinese e-commerce giant JD.com, the new carrier has accelerated growth of its 737-800BCF fleet and, at seven units, is already the second-largest operator of the type in China. That seventh aircraft, which JD received in April, was the first of four units that are part of a lease deal with AerCap , with the lessor expecting to deliver the remaining three by yearend. All the 737-800 freighters in China are Boeing conversions. However, that will change when Tianjin Air Cargo, another HNA Group subsidiary, puts the first 737-800SF into service after the CAAC completes its review and inspection of the aircraft. The 2006-vintage 737-800SF (34707, ex-Hainan Airlines) recently completed conversion at the Grand China Aviation Maintenance facility in Haikou (HAK) . Unit 34707 will be the first 737-800F Tianjin Air Cargo owns, joining five -800BCFs and China’s only -700BDSF the carrier has on lease. The other China-based carriers contributing to the growth of the 737-800 freighter fleet are: Air Central, which added its sixth 737-800BCF in late 2023; Central Airlines, which has leased five 737-800BCFs ; and Shandong Airlines, which converted three of its passenger units in 2023. A320 family freighters have long road ahead Although next-generation Airbus widebody conversions have picked up momentum in China, the same cannot be said of A321 and A320 freighters — at least for now. Sichuan Airlines started flying its first A321-200PCF (1926, ex-Air Macau) in December 2023 and is the only operator of the type in China. The airline is set to add at least three more, with the next unit completing conversion in September . In a country with sixty-two active 757-200Fs as of Sept. 15, the replacement potential of the A321F may be significant, but the four operators flying 757s appear to be committed to the type in the short term. Chinese fleet to more than double Boeing, in its latest twenty-year forecast for China released Aug. 26, predicted that China’s commercial fleet will grow by 4.1% annually, from 4,345 to 9,740 aircraft by 2043. [caption id="attachment_57145767" align="alignnone" width="2560"] Air Central has not flown its ARJ21 freighter since the Singapore Airshow. (Photo/Cargo Facts)[/caption] In particular, Chinese airlines will add 585 production and converted freighters, including 170 new deliveries, over the next twenty years and the freighter fleet will almost triple to around 700 units by 2043, according to Boeing. While the additions will include new 777Fs and A330, A321 and 737NG conversions, Cargo Facts believes the Chinese fleet will become even more diverse as operators will likely also take on 777 conversions and even A350Fs and 777-8Fs. A wildcard is COMAC’s ARJ21 conversion. The Chinese planemaker celebrated the program with a double delivery to YTO Cargo Airlines and Central Airlines in October 2023, but those aircraft have been far from active; YTO’s unit hasn’t flown since June and Air Central’s unit only flew in February to appear at the Singapore Airshow. Nevertheless, Cargo Facts would not be surprised to see the fleet grow in the years ahead. The 30th Cargo Facts Symposium will take place Oct. 14-16 at the Omni Hotel in San Diego. Gain valuable insights, success strategies and networking opportunities at this special anniversary event. Learn more and register today .

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