AIRBUS expects the first contract signing for a passenger-to-freighter conversion of a A320 in December before its new service officially gets underway in January, reports Flight International magazine.
"We plan to launch the programme at the Air Cargo India conference in January," said Airbus vice president Michael Fuerst told the London-based publication. "By 2015-16, the plan is to reach 34 conversions a year."
A conversion will cost US$4.5 million according to list prices and results in a A320F that will have a payload of 23 tonnes or in a larger A321F that can carry 27.5 tonnes.
Called Conversion (AFC), the service is operated by a joint venture company owned by Airbus- EADS EFW (50 per cent) and United Aircraft (OAK) of Russia and Irkut (50 per cent).
Irkut is to build the conversion kit while EFW produces floor panels. Prototype conversions will be undertaken by EFW in Dresden and Airbus will be responsible for flight-tests.
Conversions of A320s and A321s will take place in Dresden at Irkut's Lukhovitsy plant. The A320 will be the chief type of conversion.
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