Sichuan Airlines (3U, Chengdu Shuangliu) has taken delivery of the first of three ex-Qatar Airways A330-200Fs on lease from BOC Aviation.

According to Skyliner Aviation, B-308Q (msn 1406) was ferried from Doha Hamad International to Shanghai Hongqiao on Wednesday, July 10.

The lessor said in a statement that the remaining two airframes - msn 1386 and 1350 - will deliver before year-end.

The aircraft will form the backbone of Sichuan Airlines Logistics Co. (SALCO), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Sichuan Airlines. SALCO plans to use the widebody freighters to open up longhaul routes to Europe, Brussels National being among its initial destinations.