Israel Aerospace Industries Completes First Airbus A330 Cargo Conversion Flight

Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) successfully conducted the maiden flight of its first converted Airbus A330-200 freighter aircraft. The flight, which took off and landed at Ben Gurion Airport on Friday, is a significant milestone in the aircraft's licensing process before its delivery to customers and entry into service.

The conversion involved transforming a passenger A330 into a cargo configuration, marking IAI's first time modifying an Airbus model, following approvals from the European manufacturer. Previously, IAI focused on converting Boeing aircraft for cargo, refueling, and special missions. This project builds on the success of their Boeing 777 freighter conversion program, which has already garnered numerous orders.

The A330-300BDSF is designed for regional and medium-haul cargo operations, offering a competitive solution with a capacity of up to 30 cargo containers and a payload of 61 tons. It features an electric cargo loading system and an optimized cargo flow, with a forward cargo door on the main deck enhancing loading and unloading efficiency.

Both the converted Boeing 777 and now the A330 are repurposed from passenger service after approximately 20 years, as they no longer meet airline fuel efficiency standards. These aircraft are being retired from passenger fleets and made available for conversion.

The cost of a converted aircraft is in the tens of millions of dollars, including the aircraft acquisition. This is significantly less than the over $250 million required for a brand-new freighter of the same model directly from the manufacturer.

IAI CEO Guy Barlev stated that this milestone reflects the company's continued investment in advanced aviation technologies and its growing position in the global air cargo market. He added that the A330 conversion program expands their portfolio and enhances their ability to provide flexible, long-term solutions to customers worldwide.