767 conversion demand prompts output increases by IAI and Boeing

[caption id="attachment_412454" align="alignright" width="500"] IAI now has six 767 conversion lines in Tel Aviv and two in Mexico City. (Photo: IAI)[/caption] Israel Aerospace Industries ( IAI ) has established a second 767 conversion line at the Mexicana MRO Services facility in Mexico City (MEX). Mexicana MRO Services told Cargo Facts it expects to kick off the increased production with the induction of unit 25363 (ex-WestJet) in November or December. The company said it had begun discussions with IAI toward the beginning of the year, and has been creating additional hangar space in preparation for the equipment and tools that support the higher output. Unit 25363, which arrived at MEX Sept. 24, was joined by unit 25246 on Sept. 28. Both are registered to Amazon . Within a month, the e-commerce giant has registered four of its own 767-300ERs and quickly sent the ex-WestJet frames to await conversion into freighters. The two other aircraft (25274 and 25576) were ferried to IAI’s own facility in Tel Aviv (TLV) in September. According to Mexicana MRO Services, unit 25246 will be stored at MEX for approximately six months, presumably until unit 25363 has been converted. There is currently one 767-300ER being worked on at MEX; DHL inducted unit 33087 (ex-American Airlines) in July, after placing an order for three firm conversions plus one option with IAI in June. After the completion of unit 33087, expected by November, it is likely the next frame for DHL (33086 or 33081) will follow. IAI confirmed to Cargo Facts that it now has six 767 conversion lines at TLV and two at MEX. For Mexicana MRO Services, which also started its first 737-800BDSF conversion for IAI in July, the ramp up in freighter conversions is a timely diversification of its business. The company told Cargo Facts there had been approximately a 60% reduction of its passenger-related activities such as C-checks and other maintenance projects in the past six months, and said it is looking to potentially have a second 737 line in 2021, given that conversion work represents a more stable source of revenue. There are seven 767-300s at various stages of conversion by IAI in TLV, all owned by Cargo Aircraft Management ( CAM ): 29431 (ex-American Airlines), which arrived in March; 29227 (ex-LATAM), which arrived in April; 29429 (ex-American Airlines), which arrived in May; 29432 (ex-American Airlines), which arrived in July; 27448 (ex-American Airlines), which arrived in August; 27059 (ex-American Airlines), which arrived in September; and 29430 (ex-American Airlines), which also arrived in September. Thanks to growing demand for 767 conversions, Boeing announced in September that it will also increase its output with a second 767-300BCF conversion line in November at the ST Engineering facility in Singapore (QPG), which is currently working on an aircraft for SF Airlines (30847, ex-Titan Airways), but will soon begin converting unit 33083 (ex-American Airlines), the first of four 767-300BCFs DHL ordered from Boeing in July. While Cargo Facts Symposium 2020 will be presented as a virtual event, the unparalleled networking and continuing education opportunities remain, with the best and brightest minds addressing the most pressing industry issues for air cargo — including those around COVID-19. To register and for more information, visit www.cargofactssymposium.com .

767 conversion demand prompts output increases by IAI and Boeing

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