GECAS signed an agreement with Boeing to convert 11 737-800 Boeing Converted Freighter options to firm orders and adding nine additional options to the GECAS Cargo order book.

This agreement marks a repeat order by the commercial aircraft leasing and financing arm of General Electric for the 737-800BCF, bringing its total orderbook for the type to 74 (60 firm and 14 options) since the narrowbody conversion program launched in 2016. The 20 in this agreement are scheduled to complete conversions between 2022 and 2024.

“We are very pleased to expand our orderbook for the 737-800BCF with Boeing,” Richard Greener, SVP and manager of GECAS Cargo, said. “The versatility and reliability of these freighters is appealing to our air cargo customers, not to mention the greater efficiency, lower operational costs and better environmental credentials for the growing express and e-commerce cargo market.”

To date, Boeing has delivered 23 of the converted 737-800 next-generation (NG) freighters to GECAS for its leasing customers. The 737-800BCF carries a payload of up to 23.9 tonnes (52,800 lbs) and has a range of 2,000 nmi (3,750 km). Its primary use is carrying express cargo on domestic/short haul routes.

“It is an honor to extend our strong partnership with GECAS as they place their third repeat order for the 737-800BCF. GECAS is renowned for providing great freighter solutions and this order is another testament to the 737-800BCF’s ability to extend the life of an airplane and help cargo carriers reduce operating costs,” Ihssane Mounir, senior vice president of commercial sales and marketing for Boeing, said. “The marketplace continues to prove that the 737-800BCF is the ideal standard body freighter to meet the growing demand in e-commerce and express cargo today and in the future.”