Shortly after participating in a large order for A320neo Family passenger aircraft, China Southern Air Holding signed an additional Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Elbe Flugzeugwerke for the conversion of ten A320-200s into freighters, Cargo Facts has reported.
The Chinese holding did not reveal any further information concerning the identity of the aircraft or the timeline for their conversion. It did not respond to ch-aviation's request for comment.
The ch-aviation fleets module shows that China Southern Airlines operates 107 in-house A320-200s, which are being gradually replaced with A320neo Family aircraft. The carrier's cargo fleet comprises two inactive B747-400FSCDs, which are up for sale and thirteen B777-200Fs. Its nascent subsidiary, China Southern Air Cargo (CZ, Guangzhou), currently operates a single B777-200Fs but is due to take over all units of that type from its parent carrier. None of the other China Southern Air Holding carriers operates any freighters, and the group does not operate a single narrowbody freighter at this moment.
The Chinese carrier also has an order for six B737-800(BCF)s. It is unclear which carrier will operate the narrowbody freighters.
