Airbus has chosen Seville to establish its second global conversion center for the A330 MRTT, the best-selling military tanker and transport aircraft outside the United States. The San Pablo plant will be a twin of the Getafe facility, which until now has been the only one capable of converting commercial A330 aircraft into their military version. The facilities will be operational by the end of 2027.
Technical conversion: from commercial flight to in-flight refueling ✈️
The A330 transformation process involves stripping out the passenger interior and installing additional fuel tanks, in-flight refueling systems, and defense equipment. The new Seville line will replicate Getafe's capacity to modify up to six aircraft per year. With 91 orders from 19 countries and a 90% share of the global market (excluding the U.S.), demand ensures work for both plants for years to come.
Getafe will no longer have to work overtime with the hose 😅
Until now, Getafe has been handling all the work of converting commercial aircraft into military tankers. With the new line in Seville, workers in Madrid will be able to breathe a sigh of relief and stop dreaming about refueling hoses. Of course, the people of Seville will have to get used to an A330 entering their plant and leaving as a sky truck, with no chance of ordering a coffee with milk on board.