Boeing adds Middle East site for 737-800 cargo conversions

Boeing is establishing its eighth production line for converting Boeing 737-800 passenger aircraft to freighters after agreeing with Amman, Jordan-based maintenance and repair company Joramco to carry out the aftermarket work. 

Joramco, a subsidiary of service company Dubai Aerospace Enterprise, is the first site in the Middle East to support Boeing’s 737-800 conversion program. It will reconfigure used aircraft for customers in the Middle East, Europe, North Africa and the Commonwealth of...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/boeing-adds-middle-east-site-for-737-800-cargo-conversions

Malaysian cargo airline Raya leases ATSG’s 1st Airbus freighters

Air Transport Services Group, a diversified lessor and operator of cargo aircraft, has rented out its first Airbus freighters to an airline in Malaysia and is raising debt to help fund more aircraft investment and buy back shares from Amazon even as it slows capital expenditures to please investors.

The Ohio-based company on Monday announced that it delivered a record six converted freighters under lease in one month to customers around the world in July, including its first two Airbus A321...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/malaysian-cargo-airline-raya-leases-atsgs-1st-airbus-freighters

Sichuan Airlines to convert Airbus A321 aircraft for cargo

Sichuan Airlines has placed an order with 321 Precision Conversions for kits to convert used Airbus A321-200 passenger jets into dedicated freighters, marking it the first customer in China for the U.S. aerospace engineering firm.

321 Precision Conversions, a joint venture between Oregon-based Precision Aircraft Solutions and diversified airfreight service provider Air Transport Services Group (NASDAQ: ATSG), said Sichuan Airlines plans to add at least three converted freighters to its fleet,...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/sichuan-airlines-to-convert-airbus-a321-aircraft-for-cargo

EU certifies 1st light-duty freighter aircraft

A large white passenger jet takes off with grey clouds in background.

European Union aviation authorities have approved the first design for a permanent mini-conversion of a large passenger aircraft to carry light cargo in the cabin, offering airlines a freighter shortcut that doesn’t involve ruggedizing the compartment for heavy containers.

London-based engineering startup Avensis Aviation said Thursday it obtained supplemental certification for modifying the interior of Airbus A330 passenger aircraft with a partial cargo configuration that involves removing...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/eu-certifies-1st-light-duty-freighter

Lufthansa expands intra-Europe cargo network with A321 retrofit freighters

A white Lufthansa Cargo jet with a blue tail takes off on a rainy day.

The arrival of three new narrowbody freighters between October and next summer will enable Lufthansa Cargo to expand its medium-haul network in Europe for same-day e-commerce customers, the company said Monday.

As previously reported, a second A321 narrowbody freighter will enter service in October. The used passenger plane is currently being converted in Singapore by a specialty overhaul provider.

Lufthansa Cargo said it will add Birmingham, England, London and Madrid to its intra-European...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/lufthansa-expands-intra-europe-cargo-network-with-a321-retrofit-freighters

Freighter conversions: More wins for 737-800 as Airbus finishes 1st A320

A Boeing 737-800 jet in a hanger on a stand getting an interior overhaul.

Boeing this week announced two new orders, including from a new customer, for its 737-800 converted freighter while a separate retrofit design from Israel Aircraft Industries for the same 

model gained access to the European market. This reinforces the latest forecasts for significant growth in narrowbody cargo planes converted from passenger jets.

Airbus is gunning for the 737-800 with its fledgling A321 that hit the market 18 months ago and the smaller A320 conversion, the first unit of which...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/freighter-conversions-more-wins-for-737-800-as-airbus-finishes-1st-a320

Israeli company confirms Cargojet deal for Boeing 777 cargo conversions

Fuselage of an aircraft in a production hanger.

Israel Aircraft Industries on Monday announced that it will structurally modify four Boeing 777-300 passenger jets to carry heavy cargo on the top deck for Canadian all-cargo carrier Cargojet, confirming independent reporting by FreightWaves.

The 777 is a larger aircraft than Cargojet (TSX: CJT) currently operates and opens the door to longer-haul business in Asia. The airline publicly declared in November it would buy conversion service for two 777-200s from startup aviation engineering firm...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/israeli-company-confirms-cargojet-deal-for-b777-cargo-conversions

ATSG sends B767 cargo retrofits to Boeing for first time

A white cargo jet with wheels down takes off against a gray sky.

Air Transport Services Group has contracted with Boeing for the first time to convert four more used 767-300 passenger planes to a full cargo configuration as it expands its fleet to meet growing shipping demand, the aerospace manufacturer said Wednesday.

ATSG (NASDAQ: ATSG) is the world’s largest lessor of 767-300s and owns two cargo airlines that operate more than 90 Boeing (NYSE: BA) 767 converted freighters for customers such as Amazon (NASDAQ: AMZN), DHL Express and the Defense Department....

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/atsg-sends-b767-cargo-retrofits-to-boeing-for-first-time

LATAM locks in expansion plan with Boeing 767 converted freighters

Side view of a white cargo jet with the side door wide open and a dolly in the foreground.

LATAM Airlines Group has increased its order for 767-300 converted freighters from Boeing (NYSE: BA), nearly doubling the size of its freighter fleet by the end of 2023 and reducing the average fleet age from 17 to 14 years, the company announced Tuesday.

The South American carrier, which operates 11 767 all-cargo aircraft in addition to its passenger fleet, plans to add 10 of the aircraft during the next three years. 

LATAM said it placed orders for two more conversions with Boeing’s program and...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/latam-locks-in-expansion-plan-with-boeing-767-converted-freighters

Boeing, IAI expand production lines for 737, 777 freighter conversions

Inside the frame of a stripped down Boeing 737-800 being converted into a freighter.

Boeing (NYSE: BA) and Israel Aerospace Industries are adding production capacity to meet growing demand for conversions of narrow- and wide-body passenger aircraft into freighters.

The U.S. plane maker announced Wednesday that it is partnering with an airframe maintenance and repair specialist in Costa Rica so it can modify more 737-800 aircraft for full-time cargo work to meet the need of express delivery operators experiencing growing e-commerce volumes.

Cooperativa Autogestionaria de Servicios...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/boeing-iai-expand-production-lines-for-737-777-freighter-conversions

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