GECAS has delivered the first Boeing 737-800 freighter converted by Aeronautical Engineers, Inc. to Ethiopian Airlines.

The conversion of the prototype aircraft was completed in December 2018 but AEI did not receive a supplemental type certificate for the 737-800SF from the US Federal Aviation Administration until February 2019 due to the partial government shutdown.

“We congratulate the AEI team in obtaining the FAA STC approval for the converted 737-800SF and are honoured to supply this inaugural aircraft to Ethiopian Airlines,” said Richard Greener, SVP and manager of GECAS Cargo. “This conversion programme is a key component to our ability to give customers’ choice and meet the growing needs in the expanding air cargo markets. The collaboration between GECAS and AEI has yielded additional capacity and efficiencies afforded by the Next Generation aircraft and will deliver a significant benefit to freighter operators.”

The carrier’s new 737-800SF joins a fleet of nine 777Fs.

“At Ethiopian, we are excited for this new advancement in air freighters,” said Fitsum Abady, managing director of Ethiopian Cargo and Logistics Services. “The new arrival in our fleet will further enhance our short-haul services in Arica and the Middle East.”

The 737-800SF offers a maindeck payload of up to 23.9 tonnes with an additional 3,750km of range of compared to other standard-body freighters.

GECAS became the conversion programme launch customer of both AEI’s 737-800SF and Boeing’s 737-800BCF in 2015, providing the prototype aircraft to each. Boeing delivered the first converted 737-800BCF to West Atlantic in April 2018.

AEI forecasts that 750 737-800s will be converted over the next 40 years, while GECAS plans to convert at least 50 737-800 passenger aircraft into freighters.