MRO Japan, a prominent maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) company based at Naha Airport in Okinawa, is poised to enter the Airbus passenger-to-freighter (P2F) conversion market starting in fiscal 2025. This new venture follows the company’s recent acquisition of certification from the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), which authorizes it to carry out conversions on Airbus passenger aircraft.
The move comes after MRO Japan signed a significant memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Elbe Flugzeugwerke (EFW) in April. This agreement designates MRO Japan as a subcontractor for EFW, specializing in the conversion of Airbus A320 and A321 aircraft into freighters. As part of this partnership, MRO Japan will provide third-party conversion services for EFW’s Airbus A320P2F and A321P2F programs.
This collaboration marks a milestone for MRO Japan, establishing it as Japan’s first facility dedicated to the conversion of new-generation Airbus narrowbody aircraft into freighters. In October 2022, MRO Japan earned EASA certification as an approved maintenance organization for Airbus A318, A319, A320, and A321 aircraft, further enhancing its capabilities.
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The Airbus A320P2F and A321P2F conversion programs are developed through a collaboration between EFW, ST Engineering, and Airbus. EFW oversees the Supplemental Type Certificate and manages the program’s overall execution, including marketing and sales. To support the increasing demand for converted Airbus freighters, ST Engineering and EFW have established a global network of conversion facilities across Asia Pacific, Europe, and the United States. This network supports their suite of Airbus P2F programs, which also includes the A330P2F platform.
