China Eastern Airlines Takes Delivery of First A300-600 Converted Freighter Aircraft
Dresden/Shanghai, 17 April 2007
China Eastern Airlines today took delivery of the first of its three Airbus A300-600Fs at EADS EFW´s facility in Dresden, Germany. The airframe bearing the MSN 521 was formerly operated by the Chinese airline itself as a passenger aircraft. The conversion into freighter configuration started in late December 2006. China Eastern Airlines´ second A300-600 aircraft bearing the MSN 532 is currently under conversion, the third airframe MSN 525 is scheduled to be converted as of September 2007.
“We are very pleased to deliver the first A300-600 freighter to China Eastern Airlines. For sure the converted Airbus aircraft with its excellent performance capabilities will be playing a crucial part in the growing freighter fleet of our first customer in China”, said Dr. Andreas Sperl President and CEO of EADS EFW.
China Eastern Airlines Corporation Limited and its subsidiaries provide civil aviation, air cargo, postal delivery, and other extended transportation services in the People's Republic of China. The Airline operates an Airbus fleet of 113 aircraft, including 82 A320 family aircraft, 10 A300-600 aircraft (including the converted one), 11 A330-300 aircraft and 10 A340 family aircraft. The company was established in 1995 and is headquartered in Shanghai, China. China Eastern Airlines Corporation Limited is majority owned by China Eastern Air Holding Company.
As of today, EADS has delivered a total of 141 converted freighter aircraft to over 20 customers worldwide. EFW, headquartered in Dresden, Germany, with a workforce of over 1,200 is the centre of competence for Airbus passenger to freighter conversion within EADS.
EADS is a global leader in aerospace, defence and related services. In 2006, EADS generated revenues of € 39.4 billion and employed a workforce of about 116,000. The Group includes the aircraft manufacturer Airbus, the world's largest helicopter supplier Eurocopter and EADS Astrium, the European leader in space programmes from Ariane to Galileo. EADS is the major partner in the Eurofighter consortium, develops the A400M military transport aircraft, and holds a stake in the joint venture MBDA, the international leader in missile systems.
For further information:
| Sabine Klie | EADS EFW |
Tel.: +49 351 8839 2488 Fax: +49 351 8839 2349 mailto: Sabine.Klie@efw.eads.net |
| www.efw.eads.net |
