WEEKLY NEWS CHINA’S CARGO CONVERSION SURGE


BY Ajinkya GURAV


ELBE Flugzeugwerke (EFW), the Airbus–ST Engineering joint venture specialising in aircraft conversion, has strengthened its presence in China with a new Airbus A330 passenger-to-freighter (A330P2F) contract with Chinese aircraft lessor Hengqin Winglet Aircraft Technology. Conversion work is set to begin in mid-2026 at an EFW partner facility in China, while engineering design, certification planning, and technical oversight will be coordinated from the company’s Dresden headquarters. The agreement marks Hengqin Winglet’s first A330 conversion


programme with EFW and underscores China’s growing influence in the global freighter conversion market. It also reflects a broader structural trend: operators are increasingly turning to conversions to meet medium-widebody cargo demand quickly and cost-effectively.


02


Expansion drives fleet transformation China’s aviation sector is now one of the most dynamic cargo markets globally. Rapid domestic express logistics growth, paired with the international expansion of Chinese e-commerce platforms, has significantly increased demand for dedicated freighter capacity. Airlines, integrators, and lessors are responding by expanding fleets capable of serving domestic networks and long-haul intercontinental routes. Passenger-to-freighter conversions offer a faster and lower-cost alternative to factory-built freighters, allowing operators to respond


swiftly to market demand while extending the economic life of existing aircraft. For leasing companies, this approach preserves asset value as airlines modernise passenger fleets and retire older widebody aircraft. Hengqin Winglet,


focusing on leasing, trading, and


technical


management, is positioning itself strategically within this logistics ecosystem. Chief executive James Huang said:


“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.”


The growing importance of the A330P2F EFW has positioned the A330P2F as a central product in the medium- sized cargo aircraft category. It fills the gap between narrow-body freighters used for short-haul distribution and larger wide-body freighters deployed on intercontinental routes. The aircraft balances payload capability, fuel efficiency, and operational flexibility across regional and long-haul networks. Jordi Boto, chief executive of EFW, noted: “The A330P2F platform is


gaining traction among operators seeking a balance between payload capacity, operational efficiency, and cost control.” Converted A330 freighters offer competitive fuel consumption per tonne of cargo compared with older wide-body aircraft, making them particularly attractive in fast-growing markets such as China.


Conversion as a strategic solution Passenger-to-freighter conversions have evolved from niche engineering tasks into a core element of cargo fleet strategy. They allow airlines


A globally integrated ecosystem The new programme also highlights the increasingly international structure of aircraft conversion. While physical work occurs in China, engineering and certification support comes from EFW’s German headquarters. This distributed model reflects the collaborative nature of modern aerospace manufacturing, where engineering expertise, regulatory compliance, and industrial capacity are often located in different regions. EFW itself embodies such collaboration. As a joint venture between


Airbus and Singapore-based ST Engineering, the company combines design expertise with aerospace engineering capabilities to support conversion programmes across multiple aircraft platforms.


Future dynamics The Hengqin Winglet agreement reinforces China’s expanding role in shaping global cargo aviation. As logistics demand rises across Asia, the need for efficient medium-widebody freighters will grow. Passenger-to- freighter conversions are no longer merely a way to extend aircraft life; they have become a strategic tool enabling airlines and lessors to adapt fleets to evolving logistics markets. When the first converted aircraft enters service later this decade,


it will signify more than a fleet addition—it will demonstrate how cargo aviation is increasingly shaped by leasing strategy, conversion technology, and the acceleration of global e-commerce.


Did You Know ? WILL THE FAMOUS AALSMEER CLOCK SURVIVE? BY Michael SALES


THE Dutch flower auctions held daily at Royal Flora Holland ‘s Aalsmeer market, close to Schiphol Airport, have been in operation since 1911, moving to its present location in 1972.. Known as a "Dutch auction", the price goes from high to low, which protects growers from a "race to the bottom". The clock measures money rather than time and operates in reverse. The clock system has been at the heart of Holland’s floriculture sector,


trading around 20 million


flowers and plants every day, totalling over €2 billion annually. The auctioneer starts the price high, and the clock hand moves downwards toward zero. The first buyer to press a button stops the clock and claims the lot at that specific price. Transactions happen approximately every four seconds, making it one of the fastest trading systems in the world for perishable goods.


Historically, massive physical clocks were used, however, these physical clocks have largely been replaced by digital projections and remote buying software to allow global dealers to bid from their own offices. The Aalsmeer Flower Auction remains the largest of its kind, processing millions of flowers daily across multiple "clocks". Is the clock still important to RFH?" David


van Mechelen, interim CEO of Royal Flora Holland. remarks"The simple answer is yes. Our clock is the basis of our cooperative existence and is unique. So we should not take it for granted. The clock, the auctioning, the bidding, what we do here on this scale is exceptional. We can be proud of that. Our sector is constantly changing as new requirements arise, and Royal Flora Holland responds to them. The Netherlands continues to trade more


flowers and plants than any other country. In 2025, according to the Dutch Association of


ACW 23 MARCH 2026 www.aircargoweek.com


Wholesalers in Floricultural Products (VGB) and market analyst Floridata, Dutch 2025 flower and plant exports were up nearly 2 per cent, from €7 billion in 2024 to €7.2 billion in 2025.The challenge of available air cargo capacity at peak times, continues and more growers , especially in Africa, are switching to Ocean freight, but it can never beat the speed and freshness of air freight. The timing of the recent Valentines day distribution was especially difficult due to bad weather, but the ability of the Aalsmeer auctions to turn around the incoming flowers and plants still remains a miracle of logistics.


and lessors to expand capacity without the longer timelines or higher costs associated with new-build freighters. Medium-widebody aircraft like the A330P2F meet the operational requirements of China’s express delivery networks and cross-border e-commerce platforms, supporting both domestic and international routes.


T: +44 (0)1737 906107


Advertising: sales@azurainternational.com Press releases: news@azurainternational.com


The ACW Team Editor:


Supplement Editor: News Reporter:


Regional Representative (APAC):


Edward Hardy James Graham


Anastasiya Simsek Ajinkya Gurav


Regional Representative (North America): Oscar Sardinas Director of Operations:


Kim Smith International Media Sales Director: Rosa Bellanca


Senior Publishing And Events Manager: Chris Richman Finance Manager:


Design & Production Manager: Production Supervisor: Website Consultant:


Rachel Burns Alex Brown Kevin Dennis


Tim Brocklehurst


The views and opinions expressed in this publication are not necessarily those of the publishers. Whilst every care is taken, the publishers cannot be held legally responsible for any errors in articles or advertisements. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by electronic, mechanical, photographic or other means without the prior consent of the publishers. USA: The publishers shall not be liable for losses, claims, damages or expenses arising out


of or attributed to the contents of Air Cargo Week, insofar as they are based on information, presentations, reports or data that have been publicly disseminated, furnished or otherwise communicated to Air Cargo Week. © AZura international 2026 • ISSN 2040-1671 -


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14