On May 27, Beijing Aircraft Maintenance Engineering Company (Ameco) and EFW signed a five‑year cooperation agreement with Asia Pacific Aviation Leasing Group (APALG) for the conversion of Airbus A330 passenger aircraft into freighters.
“This cooperation is an important step in APALG’s strategic layout,” said Zhao Hongwei, CEO of APALG. “APALG’s A330‑300 passenger aircraft will be converted into full freighters using EFW’s leading passenger‑to‑freighter conversion technology. As a top‑tier MRO provider in China, Ameco will be responsible for the conversion work. This is a deep collaboration that leverages the strengths of all three parties, shares resources, and achieves win‑win development.”
Torsten Kuehn, Senior Vice President of EFW, said: “Ameco Chengdu Branch will carry out the first A330 passenger‑to‑freighter conversion for APALG. Ameco and EFW are committed to delivering this aircraft on schedule with high quality.”
“Ameco has always focused on building its core capabilities in wide‑body aircraft conversion, deepening international cooperation, and striving to become a world‑class conversion center,” said Li Ji, General Manager of the Marketing and Sales Department at Ameco. “This cooperation marks the formal establishment of a global passenger‑to‑freighter conversion cooperation model among the three parties, and represents an important practice for China’s aviation maintenance industry to integrate into the global industrial chain. The three parties will jointly explore the global wide‑body passenger‑to‑freighter conversion market, set a new benchmark for industry cooperation, and support the high‑quality development of the global air cargo industry.”
Previously, Ameco and EFW signed a Global Cooperation Agreement (GTA) for A330 passenger‑to‑freighter conversion in June 2025. Together, they completed the entire airworthiness certification process for China’s first A330 passenger‑to‑freighter conversion, established the conversion technology system and supply chain management system, and completed the conversion of eight A330 aircraft for Air China Cargo. The signing of this tripartite agreement marks the expansion of the cooperation from a single customer to the global market. The three parties will take this cooperation as an opportunity to deepen strategic coordination and steadily advance the conversion work.