EFW delivers Lufthansa destined A321-200 freighter to lessor BBAM

Converted A321-200P2F cargo jet

Airbus, ST Engineering and conversion firm EFW has delivered its third A321 converted freighter to lessor BBAM. EFW said the aircraft (D-AEUC) will soon make its way to Munich to enter service as Lufthansa’s first A321 freighter.

The aircraft will be flown by Lufthansa City Line on behalf of Lufthansa Cargo. A second A321 conversion will join the Lufthansa fleet later this year.

The aircraft can transport more than 28 tonnes of gross payload per flight “significantly larger cargo volumes than in the short-haul bellies of passenger aircraft”, BBAM said.

The model also offers 14 full-container positions on the maindeck, plus up to 10 container positions and pallet loading capability on the lower deck.

The aircraft will be used on intra-European services and will target e-commerce volumes.

When the deal was first announced, Lufthansa Cargo pointed out that cross-border e-commerce shipments are forecast to grow by around 20% per year for the next five years.

The A321-200P2F “Passenger-to-Freighter” is a converted passenger aircraft to carry cargo. Modifying an A321 from passenger to the P2F version involves integrating a large main deck cargo door in the forward fuselage, plugging the passenger windows and deactivating most passenger doors. The freighter is able to carry 14 large containers/pallets on the main deck and 10 LD3-type containers on the lower deck.

Airbus, ST Engineering and EFW launched the development of the OEM supported A320/A321P2F. The A321P2F has entered service in 2020, while the A320P2F prototype induction is scheduled for the beginning of 2021.