Aviation leasing company GECAS has signed a firm order for eleven more 737-800BCF freighters with Boeing.
The order is a conversion of options into firm purchases, and at the same time adds nine new options for potential future orders on top. This brings GECAS’ order book for the aircraft type to a total of 60 firm orders and 14 options. Today’s signed aircraft are expected to be completed between 2022 and 2024.
Boeing’s 737-800BCF (Boeing Converted Freighter) are not newly built airplanes but used 737-800 that were previously flying as passenger jets. The US American manufacturer is converting them from a passenger to a cargo-only conversion. This programme was first launched in 2016.
GECAS (GE Capital Aviation Services) is an Irish-American company, owned by General Electric, and among the world’s largest aviation leasing firms. It was the launch customer of the Boeing 737-800BCF.
“The versatility and reliability of these freighters is appealing to our air cargo customers,” said GECAS Cargo senior vice-president Richard Greener.
He said the type, with its 23.9 tonne payload capability and 2,000nm range, is particularly adapted to the expanding express and e-commerce markets.
Orders for the B737-800F are beginning to take off as operators and lessors look for alternatives to the B737 classics, which are seeing feedstock begin to dry up.
