The significance of the Chinese domestic market for narrow-body passenger-to-freighter (P2F) jet aircraft conversions

This paper examines the reasons for the predicted growth in demand for air cargo in China over the next 20 years, and discusses why standard body freighters will dominate the air cargo sector. Because there are no new-build factory produced freighters available in the standard-body segment, this market is based solely on the conversion of passenger-to-freighter (P2F) aircraft. A survey is conducted of the entire Chinese commercial jet aircraft fleet which reveals a generous feedstock of candidate P2F aircraft (B737/738 and A320/321). This strongly suggests China could easily be self-sufficient in supplying its own standard body freighters. The major conversion houses are well aware of this market potential, and they are now striking various collaborative arrangements with Chinese MROs. The details of these liaisons are presented which reveal how the nascent P2F ecosystem in China is developing.