Airbus has signed an agreement with Singapore-based ST Aerospace to offer passenger-to-freighter (P2F) conversion solutions for its A320 / A321 aircraft.

The converted aircraft will be marketed and managed by Elbe Flugzeugwerke (EFW), in which the aeroplane maker holds a majority stake. The company says it foresees market demand of more than 600 aircraft over the next 20 years in the small freighter segment.

It says the A320P2F, with eleven main-deck container positions, will be capable of carrying 21 metric tonnes of payload over 2,100nm, while the A321P2F with 14 main-deck positions is claimed to be able to carry up to 27 tonnes over 1,900nm. The first converted A321P2F is set to be delivered in 2018.

“The A320/A321 P2F is the only Airbus-supported A320 family freighter conversion programme,” said Tom Williams, Airbus CEO. “We are confident this will be the best solution for freight operators and we’re pleased to collaborate with EFW and ST Aerospace to make this happen.”