Sichuan Aviation Industry Development Co. (SAID) ordered "multiple" A321-200(PCF) to be operated by Sichuan Airlines (3U, Chengdu Shuangliu). The first aircraft, scheduled for redelivery in the fourth quarter of 2023, will become the first of its variant in China.
"We are confident the A321-200(PCF) is the perfect platform for future express/integrator cargo as well as general cargo. The low operating empty weight, reliability, and quality of 321 Precision Conversions converted products is second to none," SAID President Chen Bo said.
The first aircraft to be converted under the agreement is N1926B (msn 1926), a 20.1-year-old jet operated by Air Macau (NX, Macau International) through September 2021. It was ferried from storage at Goodyear via Boston, Glasgow Prestwick, and Tashkent International to Chengdu Shuangliu over the course of December 27, 2022-January 1, 2023, Flightradar24 ADS-B data shows.
It will enter into conversion at the Sichuan Aircraft Maintenance Engineering Co. Ltd. (SMECO) facility later this month and will be converted under the STC of 321 Precision Conversions, a joint venture of Air Transport Services Group and Precision Aircraft Solutions (PAS). SAID did not disclose the exact number of future orders for Sichuan Airlines but revealed that more are expected to enter into conversion by the end of 2023 and in early 2024.
SAID is a local aviation industry company owned by Sichuan Airlines Group units, including Sichuan Airlines itself. Sichuan Airlines Group is also a shareholder in SMECO.
The carrier's current freighter fleet comprises three A330-200Fs, the ch-aviation fleets module shows. It plans to add two A330-300(P2F)s on lease from CDB Aviation shortly.
China's narrowbody freight fleet is quite sizeable as it numbers 137 aircraft operated by 12 carriers. However, it currently comprises B737 and B757 family aircraft exclusively.
