Elbe Flugzeugwerke (EFW), the Airbus–ST Engineering joint venture specialising in passenger‑to‑freighter conversions, has broadened its presence in China’s expanding aviation market with a new contract to convert Airbus A330 aircraft for Hengqin Winglet Aircraft Technology. The agreement marks Hengqin Winglet’s first engagement with EFW’s A330P2F programme and positions the lessor to capitalise on rising demand for medium‑size freighters in the region.
Under the contract, EFW will perform the A330 passenger‑to‑freighter (P2F) conversions at its partner facility in China, with work scheduled to begin in mid‑2026. Technical planning, programme management and certification oversight will be provided by EFW from its headquarters in Dresden, Germany, ensuring alignment with global conversion standards and regulatory requirements.
James Huang, CEO of Hengqin Winglet, emphasised the strategic rationale behind the partnership. “As a company with extensive expertise in leasing, trading and technical aircraft management, we are pleased to collaborate with EFW on the conversion of our A330 aircraft into a state‑of‑the‑art freighter,” Huang said. His comments reflect the growing interest among Chinese lessors and operators in acquiring modern widebody freighters to serve burgeoning express logistics and cross‑border e‑commerce markets.
The new contract extends EFW’s portfolio of customers in China, where robust cargo traffic growth has made the region a critical driver of global freighter demand. Analysts note that China’s fast‑growing e‑commerce ecosystem, combined with expanding intra‑Asia and Asia–Europe trade flows, has accelerated fleet renewal and expansion plans among cargo carriers and leasing firms alike.
Jordi Boto, CEO of EFW, welcomed Hengqin Winglet to the company’s A330P2F customer base. “We are excited to welcome a new customer into the EFW family of converted Airbus freighters,” Boto said. “The A330P2F stands out as the future of the medium‑sized air freighter segment, and we look forward to working with Hengqin Winglet in the near future to grow their A330P2F fleet.”
The A330P2F conversion programme has gained traction globally as operators seek versatile, fuel‑efficient widebody freighters capable of serving long‑haul and regional routes with competitive operating economics. EFW’s expanded footprint in China is expected to enhance accessibility to local customers, reduce logistical barriers and shorten lead times for aircraft undergoing conversion.
With work set to commence later this year, the Hengqin Winglet project reinforces EFW’s strategy of deepening regional partnerships and supporting the aviation industry’s ongoing modernisation of freighter fleets. The programme also aligns with broader trends in the air cargo sector, where medium‑widebody freighters are increasingly viewed as essential capacity solutions amid accelerating demand for reliable, flexible air logistics solutions.
