GE Capital Aviation Services will convert an additional 30 Boeing 737-800s into freighters.

According to GECAS, all the feedstock aircraft will come from its own existing portfolio and will be converted when their current leases end from 2018.

“We believe the 737-800 freighter will become an important express freighter for the 20-25 tonne air cargo market,” said Richard Greener, SVP and manager of cargo. “GECAS looks forward to supporting operators to meet the demand from this sector.”

GECAS customers ASL Group and West Atlantic Group will take delivery of the first 737-800BCFs starting from 2018 through 2019.

The 737-800BCF will be equipped with two CFM56-7B engines and can carry up to 23.9 tonnes of cargo with 12 maindeck positions over 2,000 nautical miles.

GECAS launched the 737-800 freighter with Aeronautical Engineers, Inc. in 2015 and with Boeing in 2016, and has provided each programme with a prototype for modification at facilities in Miami and Shanghai.

GECAS currently owns approximately 220 passenger 737-800s.