Boeing Converts 737-800 to Cargo Variant

Boeing Converts 737-800 to Cargo Variant

Boeing Converts 737-800 to Cargo Variant. Boeing has completed its first 737NG conversion from passenger to cargo ship and is ready to deliver the aircraft to Swedish cargo operator West Atlantic early next year.

West Atlantic confirms that the 737-800BCF arrived in the US UU For the flight tests after the conversion carried out by the Chinese maintenance and modification joint venture Boeing Shanghai Aviation Services.

The aircraft is scheduled to be certified by the end of December and delivered to Atlantic's western Atlantic division in early February, the company says.

Flight Fleets Analyzer shows that the 737-800 (MSN 32740) was manufactured in 2004 and operated by several airlines, including the defunct US airline Ryan International Airlines and the Czech charter operator Travel Service.

It is the Travel Service that most recently operated the airplane in passenger service, using it until the beginning of this year.

GECAS, which managed the aircraft throughout its useful life, in June revealed an agreement whereby it rents four 737-800 aircraft to West Atlantic. All aircraft must be delivered by 2019. In addition to Boeing Shanghai, the US automaker partnered with Chinese maintenance specialist Taikoo Aircraft Engineering as a modification center for its 737-800BCF program.

Earlier this year, Israel Aerospace Industries delivered the first converted 737NG freighter - a vintage 737-700 from 2001 - to the Alaska Airlines cargo.