Airwork Flight Operations (AWK, Auckland International) is set to add its first B757-200 freighter with former American Airlines machine N689AA (msn 25731) currently undergoing P2F conversion at Goodyear.

Airwork's General Manager, Simon Lange, told ch-aviation the B757 is one of five passenger jets acquired for conversion.

"We intend to both dry lease these aircraft as well as deploy them into ACMI opportunities we currently have under consideration," he said.

Once completed, the 24-year-old twinjet will be positioned down to New Zealand where it will join the rest of Airwork's fleet of two B737-300(F)s, seven B737-400(F)s, and two Fokker 27(F)s (retired). According to Lange, Airwork will acquire a further two B737-400(F)s of which one will be placed on a longterm dry lease in Europe.

The move comes on the heels of Airwork's takeover by China's Zhejiang Rifa Holding (RIFA) late last year. Prior to assuming control of the New Zealand-based operator group, RIFA said it would seek to develop the firm's MRO business and capabilities into other emerging markets, including Asia and Latin America.

In addition, it will also grow Airwork's helicopter leasing presence in China through the potential dispatch of existing Airwork helicopters to the region and the acquisition of new helicopters.