Demand for freighter production and conversion continues to be driven by the express delivery and e-commerce market. For this reason, Boeing and Taikoo (Shandong) Aircraft Engineering Co.Ltd. (STAECO) announced that they will create additional capacity for the Boeing 737-800 Boeing Converted Freighter (BCF).
In 2022, Boeing will add two 737-800BCF conversion lines at STAECO’s Jinan, China facility. The first line will open in the first quarter of the year and the second line is expected to begin conversions by mid-year. After the two new lines are operational, STAECO will have seven dedicated 737-800BCF conversion lines.
«Boeing is pleased to keep growing our strong and mutually beneficial relationship with STAECO by building additional conversion capacity to meet rising global demand,» said Peter Gao, Boeing’s vice president of marketing and commercial sales for China.
«STAECO has demonstrated the expertise and track record of providing quality cargo conversions and will play a key role in supporting Boeing in meeting our customers’ commitments today and in the future,» concluded Peter Gao.
Boeing forecasts that 1,720 freighter conversions will be needed over the next 20 years. Among those, 1,200 will be standard corporate conversions, and Asian operators will account for 40 percent of that demand.
«STAECO’s successful implementation of the 737-800BCF program has become a model for manufacturer and MRO cooperation in passenger-to-freighter conversions,» said Wang Chao, president of STAECO.
See also: Boeing opens two 737-800BCF freighter conversion lines in Latin America to meet strong global demand
This year, Boeing announced it would build additional 737-800BCF conversions capacity at several sites, including the existing supplier Guangzhou Aircraft Maintenance Engineering Company Limited (GAMECO), and with new suppliers Cooperativa Autogestionaria de Servicios Aeroindustriales (COOPESA) in Costa Rica, KF Aerospace in Canada, and Boeing’s London Gatwick MRO facility in the United Kingdom.
See also: Boeing to Open Three New Freighter Conversion Lines; Takes Order for Eleven 737-800BCF
The 737-800BCF holds more than 200 orders for 19 customers including Westjet, iAero Airways, Sun Country Airlines, Amazon Air, and DHL, among others.
