Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) has announced that it reached a milestone in expanding its passenger-to-freighter conversion capabilities for the Airbus A330-300 program. With the aircraft now off jacks, the program has completed its primary structural work and made significant progress toward conversion completion and certification. The program is now entering the ground and flight test phase, with the first flight of the converted aircraft scheduled to take place in the upcoming weeks and certification expected by the end of the year.
The Company is one of a select few worldwide with proven capability to perform advanced conversions for aircraft from both Boeing and Airbus, including complex widebody platforms. As global demand for freighter aircraft continues to rise, IAI is expanding its worldwide network of conversion facilities, in order to deliver flexible, high-value solutions to airlines, leasing companies and cargo operators worldwide.
Boaz Levy, President and CEO of IAI: "This achievement marks another step in executing IAI’s long-term vision to expand its role in the global air cargo market. By continuously advancing our technological and industrial capabilities, we are positioned to deliver scalable and reliable solutions that align with our customers' evolving operational needs, while reinforcing our leadership in the conversion arena."
Yaacov Berkovitz, EVP & GM, IAI’s Aviation Group: "This milestone reflects IAI’s ability to transform decades of experience and advanced engineering expertise into long‑term value for our customers. Our A330-300 passenger-to-freighter conversion has been purpose-built to meet evolving market demand, delivering a highly competitive value proposition and strong market appeal. As one of the few companies worldwide with the capability to execute comprehensive and highly complex conversions across both narrowbody and widebody aircraft, IAI offers customers greater fleet flexibility, long-term confidence and resilient investment value across market cycles."
The A330-300BDSF conversion provides a cutting-edge solution for cargo operators, offering increased cargo capacity of up to 30 containers and a payload of up to 61 tons. Designed for regional and medium-haul cargo missions, it enhances loading efficiency through an advanced cargo handling system and optimized cargo flow. The forward positioning of the main deck cargo door further reduces operating time by enabling faster loading and unloading. At the same time, the robust global feedstock pool of A330-300 aircraft provides an attractive next-generation replacement for aging fleets.
