Cairo-based Egyptair took delivery of its first dedicated narrowbody freighter, a Boeing 737-800SF, on Feb. 3.
The former Egyptair passenger aircraft had been sent for conversion work to Florida-based Aeronautical Engineers, Inc. (AEI) in September 2022. According to AEI, the one 737-800SF conversion was its only contract from Egyptair so far. Egyptair operates a total of 28 737-800 passenger aircraft.
The aircraft joins the Egyptair Cargo fleet, which operates three Airbus A330-P2Fs with a capacity of 60 tons per aircraft. Egyptair is interested in expanding in the cargo market, making the most of its geographic location close to where Africa meets the Middle East.
AEI said the Egyptian Civil Aviation Authority for the Arab Republic of Egypt approved its STC (ST02690LA) for the 12-pallet position 737-800SF freighter conversion in early December 2022.
Beside the Egyptian approvals for its 737-800SF, AEI has gained approvals from FAA, CAAC, EASA, TCCA, UK CAA, CAACI (Cayman Islands) DCA (Guernsey), ANAC, CAAM and DgCA (Indonesia). “We will continue to obtain additional foreign approvals as necessary to further assist the ease in which our leasing customers can place their aircraft around the world,” AEI President Roy Sandri said in December.
AEI says it is currently the only conversion company to offer ETOPS 180 approval on the 737-800 freighter conversion.
The AEI-converted 737-800SF freighter offers a main deck payload of up to 52,700 lbs. (23,904 kg) and incorporates eleven full height 88” x 125” container positions. The conversion also incorporates new floor beams aft of the wing box, and a large 86” x 137” main cargo door with a single vent door system. AEI currently offers passenger-to-freighter conversions for 737-800, 737-400, 737-300, MD-80 series, and Bombardier CRJ200 aircraft.
On its passenger fleet side, Star Alliance member EgyptAir expects to receive the first two of seven A321neos in March from lessor AerCap.
On Nov. 18, 2019, AerCap Holdings and EgyptAir announced they had signed documents converting leases for seven A320neos into leases for seven A321neos. In 2017, both companies signed a long-term operating lease for 15 A320neo family aircraft. Aviation Week Network’s Fleet Discovery database shows Egyptair operates one A320 and eight A320neos.
