A rise in demand for passenger to freighter aircraft conversions has seen Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) establish a conversion site for Boeing 767-300 passenger aircraft in Ethiopia, after a new memorandum of understanding was signed with Ethiopian Airlines.
The new passenger-to-freighter conversion center, will operate from the company’s maintenance center in Addis Ababa, in Ethiopia and joins existing conversion sites IAI operates at its campus in Ben Gurion International Airport and in Mexico, the Israeli-based conversion specialist IAI said.
IAI’s Executive VP and General Manager of Aviation Group, Yossi Melamed Saidi, “We are witnessing a sharp rise in the demand for cargo aircraft as a result of the rise in e-commerce, which has peaked to record levels during the COVID-19 pandemic. IAI has an excellent reputation as a conversion center of passenger-to-freighters aircraft, and we are constantly receiving requests to open such conversion centers in more and more locations around the world. I am excited by the opening of the current center in Ethiopia, and thank my colleagues in Ethiopian Airlines for the trust they have put in IAI’s Aviation Group, as the world’s leader in conversions.”
The new partnership will enable Ethiopian MRO centre to be the largest and most advanced in Africa. The conversion site will provide solutions in the field of converting passenger aircraft to cargo configuration, aircraft maintenance and overhaul, staff training and guidance, as well as assistance in acquiring certification and licenses. Initially, IAI will convert three Ethiopian Airlines 767 passenger aircraft into freighters.
Ethiopian Airlines Group Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Tewolde GebreMariam said, “In line with our Diversified Aviation Business Model of Vision 2025, we have been increasing our cargo capacity in fleet, ground service infrastructure and cargo connectivity network. Accordingly, we are partnering with IAI, one of the global technology leaders in the aerospace industry, in building a cargo conversion center in our MRO facilities in Addis Ababa Airport.”
“The cargo conversion center will commence its first business with three Ethiopian Airlines owned B-767-300 aircraft. The cargo conversion center in ADD HUB airport will expand its services to all airlines in Africa and the wider region. We are very happy that we are able to collaborate with IAI to enable us to expand our cargo and logistics services, which is already the largest and leading cargo network in Africa. The capacity building will also help us expand our MRO services with cutting edge technology and knowledge transfer.”
Ethiopian MRO, with its internal capacity, temporarily converted 25 of its passenger aircraft to freighter to boost its cargo capacity as demand to transport emergency medical supplies soared.
On 10th this month, Israel Aerospace Industries also began the structural modification phase in the conversion of the first Boeing 777-300ERSF, in partnership with GE Capital Aviation Services (GECAS).
The passenger-to-freighter conversion includes changing the structure, which involves installing a new cargo door, replacing and strengthening the aircraft floor, installing reinforcements near the cargo opening, and modifying electrical systems to enable safe and convenient operation.
By Victor Shalton Odhiambo
