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The consultant also looked at the value of new production freight- U.S. airframer Boeing formed a new partnership
ers entering the market. “Our initial view on the new purpose-built with a Costa Rica-based maintenance, repair
widebody freighter types is that both will command a considerable and overhaul (MRO) provider to create additional
premium on the existing in production Boeing 777F, which is valued conversion capacity for the 737-800 Boeing
at US$157m. Converted Freighter. Boeing plans to open two
737-800BCF conversion lines with Cooperativa
“We estimate that a new Airbus A350F (with its cargo capacity of Autogestionaria de Servicios Aeroindustriales
109 tonnes) will have a value of US$172m. The marginally higher (COOPESA) in Alajuela, Costa Rica. The first of
112 tonne capacity Boeing 777-8F will have a value of US$187m. the new conversion lines is expected to open
Without being able to rely on the cargo capacity provided by pas- in mid 2022, with the second anticipated later
senger airlines, shippers and aggregators began a fierce race for this year.
full freighter airplanes. “High volumes of airfreight have been moved
around the globe on passenger aircraft sharing space with luggage,” Boeing forecasts 1,500 freighter conversions
said Kym Parks, marketing director at ATSG, the world’s largest lessor will be needed over the next 20 years to meet
of freighters. “However, the pandemic changed the global landscape growing demand. Of those, 1,080 will be stan-
of airfreight movement due to decreased international travel. Demand dard-body conversions, with nearly 30 per cent
for dedicated freighters is on the rise and ATSG has positioned itself of that demand coming from North America and
as the source to meet that demand along with delivering additional Latin America. “COOPESA has demonstrated
value-added services to the global air cargo market.” the technical expertise and commitment to
quality and execution necessary to help us
Boeing Gains meet the growing customer demand for the
Boeing, after a difficult few years amid the backdrop of concerns 737-800BCF, including in the Americas,” said
regarding coronavirus and the recertification of the 737 MAX Jens Steinhagen, director of Boeing freighter
family, enjoyed a record-breaking 2021 when it came to freighter conversions. Currently, Boeing converts 737-
orders. The US manufacturer received more than 200 last year, with 800 passenger airplanes to freighters at three
these covering variety of different models from its freighter portfolio. locations: Boeing Shanghai Aviation Services
Brian Hermesmeyer, the company’s Freighter Customer Leader, said: (BSAS) in Shanghai, China; Guangzhou Aircraft
2021 was a pretty remarkable year for freighter sales. And this is Maintenance Engineering Company Limited
coming off of a prior year where we [had a] pretty remarkable year (GAMECO) in Guangzhou, China; and Taikoo
for freighter sales. We set a record in 2021, across all of our freighter (Shandong) Aircraft Engineering Co. Ltd.
platforms with over 200 orders across our product line.” (STAECO) in Jinan, China.
The triple-seven had 42 sales last year, and 21 through April this year,
so we have really seen a very strong commitment to that platform.” According to Boeing, to date, the 737-800BCF
The demand for the 777F is impressive, given that it has stayed has won more than 180 orders and commit-
high even after Airbus launched theA350F. However, with airfreight ments from 15 customers on four continents.
playing an important role in the supply chain it is understandable In March last year, Boeing re-delivered the 50th
that operators remain interested in an established aircraft that can 737-800BCF since entering into service in 2018.
be built and delivered faster than an all-new design. Boeing also has plans to partner with special-
ists including Israel Aerospace Industries Ltd.
Airbus Programmes (IAI) and Mammoth Freighters to convert its
Airbus has performed numerous analysis and participated in design passenger jets for cargo use to keep up with
reviews, which helped lead to design solutions that are far superior soaring demand.
in terms of performance, reliability, maintainability and life cycle cost.
To meet the rising demand for freighter conversions, ST Engineering Late last year, IAI Aviation Group signed an
and EFW plans to establish new conversion sites in China, Germany agreement with World Star Aviation to con-
and the U.S. this year and ramp up total global conversion capacity for vert 10 B737-800 passenger aircraft to cargo
all their Airbus P2F programmes to about 60 slots per year by 2024. configuration, with an option for an additional
Sensing the strong demand for production and converted freighters, 10 conversions. The cargo conversions will
take place at IAI’s partially-owned subsidiary,
Bedek Lingyun (Yichang) Aircraft Maintenance
Engineering Co., Ltd (“Belinco”) in Yichang, Hubei
Province, China, and in other locations. Executive
VP & GM of IAI Aviation Group, Shmuel Kuzi said:
“This agreement is also a result of the rising
e-commerce which has increased demand for
cargo jets. I am certain we will see many more
similar agreements with World Star Aviation
in the coming years, and we are always ready
to provide top solutions in additional locations
worldwide.”

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