GE Capital Aviation Services and Aeronautical Engineers, Inc. have begun their first Boeing 737-800 passenger-to-freighter conversion.

“As the pre-eminent commercial airline leasing company in the world, we are excited to begin the first B737-800SF conversion with GECAS,” said Roy Sandri, president of AEI. “This is a terrific milestone for AEI, and we’re thrilled that the first B737-800SF modification is officially underway.”

According to AEI, the 737-800 was manufactured in 1999 and had been operated by Turkish low-cost carrier Corendon Airlines.

The conversion project, which will last approximately a year, involves the installation of a cargo door, a rigid cargo barrier and 12 pallet positions on the main deck, 11 for full-height containers and one for a half-width container. The aircraft will have a maximum structural payload of 23.5 tonnes and a range of more than 2,100 nautical miles.

GECAS is planning to convert up to 20 of its 737-800s to freighters with AEI at facilities in the US and Asia.

“The 737-800NG freighter will complement the GECAS cargo portfolio and clearly become an important narrowbody freighter to support the future express air cargo markets,” said Rich Greener, SVP and manager of cargo at GECAS.

GECAS’ AEI freighter conversion programme was announced at the Paris Air Show in June 2015.

AEI currently has conversion programmes for the 737-300, 737-400 and McDonnell Douglas MD-80.