GAMECO, Boeing to jointly build second freighter conversion line

A second freighter conversion line will be built in Guangzhou, South China's Guangdong province, Guangzhou Aircraft Maintenance Engineering Company Limited (GAMECO) and Boeing jointly announced on Wednesday.

The move comes after GAMECO started operations of the first production line of 737-800 Boeing Converted Freighter (BCF) project in June this year.

The new production line is expected to be put into use in 2021, which will allow GAMECO to significantly increase its production capacity to meet the surging demand for freighters.

Companies can extend service life of aircraft and better meet market demands by converting passenger airplanes to freighters. GAMECO and Boeing launched the first 737-800BCF production line work in Guangzhou last year amid the growing need in the air cargo market. The novel coronavirus epidemic this year has further increased the demand for freighters carrying vital medical supplies and equipment, and also has pushed airlines to shift more of their business to air cargo, Boeing said.

The world will see 2,820 freighters come to the civil aviation market in the next 20 years, including 1,220 standard-body passenger-to-freighter aircraft, according to Boeing. China is expected to account for 30 percent of global demand for standard-body freighters.