EGYPTAIR has signed a contract for its first B737-800SF freighter conversion with Aeronautical Engineers, Inc. (AEI), which is scheduled to commence modification in October 2022

The aircraft (MSN: 35560) will undergo touch labor for its conversion and maintenance requirements at AEI conversion center Commercial Jet in Miami, Florida. Upon completion, the aircraft will be the first AEI B737-800SF converted freighter to be owned and operated by EGYPTAIR.

Capt. Amr Abu El-Enein, Chairman and CEO of EGYPTAIR Holding Company, said the order is part of the airline’s plan to modernize its cargo and passenger fleet.

“We will continue to increase the size of our fleet and open new freighter markets in the coming years to meet the growing needs of the local market in terms of exporting goods abroad, especially crops,” he noted.

EGYPTAIR, which currently owns three Airbus A330-200 freighters, said its cargo operations have grown during the COVID-19 period. The company has started new routes to accommodate the need to transport medical items and agricultural crops.

AEI is currently the only conversion company to have ETOPS 180 approval on the 737-800 freighter conversion. The company can convert all 737-800 line number aircraft including those with Split Scimitar winglets.

Also read: AEI’s B737-800SF freighter model gets ETOPS approval