Boeing has partnered with Jordanian MRO provider Joramco to establish a passenger-to-freighter conversion line at its main base in Amman.
The line will focus on Boeing 737-800 passenger-to-freighter (P2F) conversions at Joramco’s facilities in the Jordanian capitol. Joramco says it will be the first MRO supplier in the Middle East supporting future Boeing freighter conversions of both domestic and foreign aircraft.
Once established, the operation will support future 737-800BCF customers operating across the Middle East, Europe, North Africa and Commonwealth of Independent States.
Aviation Week has contacted Joramco about when the P2F line will commence operation.
“Our geographic location in Amman, our deep MRO experience and the opportunity to work together with Dubai Aerospace Enterprise on their customers’ requirements makes this a very exciting opportunity,” says Fraser Currie, CEO of Joramco.
Joramco has operated as a subsidiary of Dubai Aerospace Enterprise (DAE) since 2016 in its DAE Engineering division. DAE also operates a leasing unit—DAE Capital—with a fleet of around 550 aircraft leased to approximately 120 airlines in more than 60 countries.
Firoz Tarapore, CEO of DAE, says that since its acquisition in 2016, Joramco has more than doubled revenues. Tarapore says further expansion plans, announced earlier this year, are underway. “We continue to expand our presence at our Amman, Jordan based facility, which is expected to reach 22 maintenance lines by the end of 2024," he says.
Tarapore adds that Joramco plans to deepen its relationship with Boeing and will look to continue developing new product offerings for its global customer network. Currently, the maintenance provider can accommodate up to 17 widebody and narrowbody aircraft in Amman with authorization to work on 15 aircraft.
Mike Doellefeld, commercial programs vice president of engineering services, converted freighters and sub-components at the U.S. airframe manufacturer, adds: “Connecting with Joramco reflects the potential of a growing region combined with an MRO capable of producing the BCF with the quality our customers expect.”
This is reflected in data released by Boeing earlier this year in its annual Commercial Market Outlook report. Boeing projects that the global freighter fleet is expected to grow by 65% to more than 3,700 aircraft in 2042. To support this growth, Boeing forecasts more than 2,800 production and converted freighter deliveries are required over the next two decades, including around 1,300 standard-body freighter conversions including the 737-800BCF.
In the past two years, Boeing has grown its global conversion lines by adding more 737-800 aircraft conversion sites. These include additions at London Gatwick Airport where it operates an MRO facility; Hyderabad, India in cooperation with local MRO GMR Aero Technic and in Costa Rica through a partnership with maintenance specialist Coopesa.
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