ST Aerospace and Elbe Flugzeugwerke, its joint venture with the Airbus Group, have signed a contract with DHL Express to launch the A330-300 passenger-to-freighter conversion.

The announcement was made at the biennial Farnborough International Airshow.

“The A330-300P2F conversion will address an important requirement within our global aviation fleet for mid-range, high-volume cargo aircraft,” said Geoff Kehr, senior vice president of global air fleet management at DHL Express [front left in photo]. “It will bring added flexibility and capacity to our operations, and will further support our aims of improving fuel efficiency for every kilo of cargo carried within our network.”

According to ST Aerospace, EFW will convert four A330-300s into a 26-pallet cargo configuration, with the capability to transport up to 61 tonnes of payload. The first frame will be inducted into EFW’s facilities in Dresden later this month and be redelivered to DHL by the end of 2017.

“We are very glad to and proud to have DHL Express as launch customer,” said Andreas Sperl, president and CEO of EFW. “The A330P2F programme ensures the continuity of high-quality freighter aircraft made by EFW in Dresden.”

The A330P2F programme was first launched in 2012 with the smaller but longer-range A330-200P2F, for which Egyptair Cargo signed a launch contract in December 2014.