North African Carrier, EgyptAir as continued its cargo expansion as the airline has signed a deal with Aeronautical Engineers, Inc. (AEI) for the conversion of an B737-800 aircraft into a freighter configuration.
According to aircargonews.net, the aircraft (MSN: 35560) is scheduled to commence modification in October 2022, with touch work for the conversion and maintenance requirements carried out by Commercial Jet, in Miami.
“This order is part of EGYPTAIR’s cargo and passenger fleet modernization plan,” said Amr Abu El-Enein, chairman and chief executive of EgyptAir Holding Company.
“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.”
EGYPTAIR currently owns three Airbus A330-200 freighters, with a capacity of 60 tons per aircraft.
The airline last added a freighter aircraft back in 2019.
The airline said that 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. Once completed, this will be the first AEI B737-800SF converted freighter to be owned and operated by EgyptAir,” the company said.
The AEI converted B737-800SF freighter offers a maindeck payload of over 23 tonnes and incorporates eleven full height 88” x 125” container positions, plus an additional position for an AEP/AEH.
