CDB Aviation and Sichuan Airlines took part in a ceremony to mark the delivery of the A330-300P2F. Photo: Business Wire
Sichuan Airlines has taken delivery of a second Airbus A330-300 Passenger to Freighter (P2F) aircraft from lessor CDB Aviation.
The airline received its first A330-300P2F from the Irish subsidiary of China Development Bank Financial Leasing Co., Ltd. in May last year.
“We are thrilled to be joining our partners at Sichuan Airlines in celebrating this significant 200th aircraft milestone in the airline’s impressive regional and international growth story,” commented Jie Chen, CDB Aviation’s chief executive.
“CDB Aviation congratulates the Sichuan Airlines team on achieving their leading position among airlines in Western China and its growing role as an international airline in both the passenger and cargo markets.”
Zuyi Shi, chairman of Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport-headquartered Sichuan Airlines, said: “We are very happy to strengthen our relationship with CDB Aviation and appreciate Jie Chen and his team for their continued hard work in bringing the second A330 P2F aircraft to Sichuan Airlines.
“The aircraft is a superb addition to our cargo fleet, providing us with more widebody freighter capacity and enhancing our operational capabilities to meet the rapidly expanded market demand. This will further ensure our airlines’ sustainable growth in the long term.”
CDB and Sichuan Airlines took part in a ceremony at Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport on July 9 to mark the delivery. The P2F is also the 200th aircraft to join the airline’s fleet.
The companies did not provide any technical details on the conversion, but Sichuan Airlines’ first A330-200P2F was converted by Elbe Flugzeugwerke GmbH (EFW) with Shanghai Technologies Aerospace Company Limited (STARCO) at its facilities in Shanghai Pudong. This was EFW’s first-ever A330P2F conversion to have taken place in China.
Sichuan Airlines moved into freighter operations in 2019 with a deal for three A330Fs from Singapore-based lessor BOC Aviation.
The Sichuan Airlines Group has a 40% share in Sichuan Airlines. The airline’s other major shareholders include China Southern Airlines, Shandong Airlines and China Eastern Airlines.
CDB Aviation entered the conversion market in 2020 when it struck a deal with EFW for the conversion of a pair of Airbus A330-300s. As of last year, the company had contracted 14 A330 P2F conversions with EFW.
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