Guangzhou Aircraft Maintenance Engineering Company Ltd. (GAMECO) has kicked off its 737-800BCF conversion line with the induction of its first aircraft (29052, ex-Aeromexico) [FAT 005441].
GAMECO, which Boeing announced as its third conversion site for 737-800BCFs in October 2019, said it is also looking to launch a second -800BCF conversion line later this year.
BBAM confirmed to Cargo Facts that unit 29052 is part of the order for three conversions from Boeing announced in February. The 737 arrived at the GAMECO facility in Guangzhou (CAN) May 18 from Mexico City (MEX), via Tijuana (TIJ), Anchorage (ANC) and Tokyo (NRT).
The twenty-year-old aircraft first entered service with Sabre Airways in the U.K. and had been flying with several different airlines before joining Aeromexico in 2011. It was withdrawn from commercial service March 30.
GAMECO, a 50-50 joint venture between China Southern Airlines and Hutchison Whampoa (China) Ltd., previously told Cargo Facts the first aircraft in the BBAM order would be inducted for conversion in June, with an expected redelivery in the fourth quarter of 2020.
Meanwhile, BBAM confirmed that another 737-800 it manages (28608, ex-Air Italy) was ferried to Jinan (TNA) May 16 for conversion into freighter configuration at the Taikoo (Shandong) Aircraft Engineering Company Ltd. (STAECO) facility. The lessor told Cargo Facts this aircraft is also one of the three in the February order. The aircraft, manufactured in 1999, had been in Lasham (QLA) for storage and maintenance since February after the collapse of Air Italy.
BBAM, which has so far taken redelivery of two 737-800BCFs and leased them to China Postal Airlines, has a portfolio containing around 130 passenger 737-800s.
Boeing now has six 737-800BCF conversion lines in China, spread across GAMECO, STAECO, and Boeing Shanghai Aviation Services (BSAS) in Shanghai (PVG).
