West Atlantic First to Order Airbus A320 Freighters by Ian Sheppard

West Atlantic, parent of ERA member West Air Sweden, has become the first operator to order the Airbus A320 P2F (passenger-to-freight conversion) from Aercap, the lessor which has worked with Airbus as launch customer.

West Atlantic will lease three aircraft from Aercap, which has ordered 30 A320 P2Fs from Airbus Freight Conversions (AFC). The conversions will be carried out at AFC's plant at Dresden (formerly known as EADS EFW) and West Atlantic will receive its first aircraft, all being well, in 2012 and mid-2013. It has also agreed that it may take another four of the aircraft, by signing up for options.

Russell Ladkin, Westair sales & operations director, said: "The A320 P2F programme is an exciting project and we are delighted to be the launch operator for this new freighter. The A320 provides significant competitive advantage over the established market competition."

Gothenburg, Sweden-based West Atlantic (formed by the merger of Westair and Atlantic Airways) was instrumental in converting former BAe ATP passenger aircraft to freighters with BAE Systems, so it now has the largest fleet of ATP cargo freighters.

Aercap's subsidiary AeroTurbine (and AFC) will provide some spares support, crew training and line support to West Atlantic's operation to facilitate the entry into service of the new type with the airline.