As global demand for freighters continues to soar, Boeing has announced plans to add three conversion lines for the market-leading 737-800BCF across North America and Europe. 

The company also signed a firm order with Icelease for eleven of the freighters as the launch customer for one of the new conversion lines.

In a statement, the American planemaker said in 2022, the company will open one conversion line at Boeing's London Gatwick Maintenance, Repair & Overhaul (MRO) facility, its state-of-the-art hangar in the United Kingdom; and two conversion lines in 2023 at KF Aerospace MRO in Kelowna, British Columbia, Canada.  

"Building a diverse and global network of conversion facilities is critical to supporting our customers' growth and meeting regional demand," said Jens Steinhagen, director of Boeing Converted Freighters. 

"KF Aerospace and our Boeing teammates at London Gatwick have the infrastructure, capabilities and expertise required to deliver market-leading Boeing Converted Freighters to our customers." 

For Icelease, which recently expanded its cooperation with Corrum Capital through a joint venture called Carolus Cargo Leasing, the order for eleven 737-800BCF will be their first converted freighter order with Boeing. 

The lessor will be the launch customer for conversions at Boeing's London Gatwick MRO facility.

"We are confident in the quality and proven record of Boeing's 737-800 converted freighter, and pleased to be the launch customer for their new London MRO facility," said Magnus Stephensen, senior partner at Icelease.

"We look forward to bringing the freighter in to our fleet to serve our growing global customer base operating domestic and short-haul routes."

Earlier this year, Boeing announced it would create additional 737-800BCF conversion capacity at several sites, including a third conversion line at Guangzhou Aircraft Maintenance Engineering Company Limited (GAMECO), and two conversion lines in 2022 with a new supplier, Cooperativa Autogestionaria de Servicios Aeroindustriales (COOPESA) in Costa Rica. 

Once the new lines become active, Boeing will have conversion sites in North America, Asia and Europe. 

The announcement comes as Boeing earlier forecasts 1,720 freighter conversions will be needed over the next 20 years to meet demand. Of those, it said 1,200 will be standard-body conversions, with nearly 20% of that demand coming from European carriers, and 30% coming from North America and Latin America. 

The 737-800BCF is the standard body freighter market leader with more than 200 orders and commitments from 19 customers.