March 11, 2021
WEST CHESTER, Ohio – Titan Airways has taken delivery of its first Passenger-to-Freighter converted aircraft, a CFM56-5B powered Airbus A321P2F. This delivery is the first of three Airbus A321 converted passenger to freighter aircraft on order.
The U.K. airline is among the first carriers in the world to operate the converted aircraft since the plane’s initial production in 2020. The aircraft is leased to Titan Airways by an investment vehicle managed by affiliates of BBAM Limited Partnership (BBAM), which oversaw the aircraft conversion, together with Airbus affiliated partners, that was completed in Singapore. In 2020, Titan also took delivery of its first A321neo powered by LEAP-1A engines.
The Airbus A321 Passenger to Freight conversion program was launched by ST Engineering and Airbus through their joint-venture Elbe Flugzeugwerke (EFW) in 2015. Modifying an A321 from passenger to the P2F version involves integrating a large main deck cargo door in the forward fuselage, plugging the passenger windows and deactivating most passenger doors. It’s also more fuel efficient, resulting in lower emissions.
Demand for air cargo services is soaring amid a pandemic-induced capacity shortage. With Covid-19 vaccine and testing distribution needs imminent, the aircraft conversion availability is timely.
We’ve been exploring aircraft options that not only offer more containerized volume, but also significantly better fuel-burn to align with our sustainability vision. The CFM powered A321P2F aircraft achieves a 20% less fuel-burn per-hour compared to similar sized-aircraft it replaces in our fleet. The engine’s excellent efficiency and reliability also enables us to do more for our customers at this crucial time.
Gaël Meheust, President and CEO of CFM International, added: “We’re grateful by the trust that Titan Airways has placed in us throughout the years. Titan has been operating three generations of CFM engines, including CFM56-3, CFM56-5B and now the LEAP-1A. We’re confident the LEAP-1A engine will continue to deliver both efficiency and reliability to help further elevate Titan’s operational excellence.”
About Titan Airways
Titan Airways is an independent UK charter airline, led by aviation experts with a wealth of knowledge and experience. Titan has been flying passengers and cargo around the world for more than 30 years. The company’s passion and commitment to high standards makes it one of Europe’s leading ACMI lease and charter airlines. Titan Airways is the only global cargo operator of CFM powered Airbus A321PF and the Boeing 737 Next-Generation aircraft.
About BBAM
BBAM is the world’s largest dedicated manager of investments in leased commercial jet aircraft providing over 200 airline customers in more than 50 countries with fleet and financing solutions over the last three decades, and the only significant manager in sector focused exclusively on generating investment returns on third party capital. BBAM is a full-service lessor and maintains its own in-house capabilities encompassing aircraft origination, disposition, lease marketing, technical maintenance, regulatory compliance, capital markets activity, tax structuring, legal, contracts, and finance, for all asset types and strategies. You can find more info about BBAM on its website at www.bbam.com.
ABOUT CFM INTERNATIONAL
A 50/50 joint venture between GE Aerospace and Safran Aircraft Engines, CFM International has redefined international cooperation and helped change the course of commercial aviation since its founding in 1974. Today, CFM is the world's leading supplier of commercial aircraft engines with a product line that sets the industry standard for efficiency, reliability, durability, and optimized cost of ownership. CFM International produces the LEAP family of engines and supports LEAP and CFM56 fleets for operators worldwide. . www.cfmaeroengines.com
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