Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) Aviation Group has signed an agreement with Ethiopian Airlines to establish a conversion site for Boeing 767-300 passenger aircraft.
The new passenger-to-freighter conversion centre, which will operate from the company’s maintenance centre in Addis Ababa, will provide solutions for the rising demand for cargo aircraft of these models. The conversion line in Ethiopia will join existing conversion sites IAI operates at its campus at Ben Gurion International Airport and in Mexico.
Ethiopian Airlines' MRO (maintenance, repair and operations) Center is approved by the Ethiopian Civil Aviation Authority, the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), and the European Aviation Safety Agency (Easa). The new site will be the largest and most advanced in Africa.
The conversion site will provide solutions in the field of converting passenger aircraft to cargo configuration, aircraft maintenance and overhaul, staff training and guidance, as well as assistance in acquiring certification and licences.
“We are witnessing a sharp rise in the demand for cargo aircraft as a result of the rise in e-commerce, which has peaked to record levels during the Covid-19 pandemic,” said IAI's executive VP and general manager of Aviation Group, Yossi Melamed. “We are constantly receiving requests to open such conversion centres in more and more locations around the world.”
Ethiopian Airlines Group chief executive officer, Tewolde GebreMariam, said the conversion centre would commence its first business with three Ethiopian Airlines-owned B-767-300 aircraft. “The cargo conversion centre in ADD HUB airport will expand its services to all airlines in Africa and the wider region.”