Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) has reported a rising demand for widebody cargo aircraft, reflecting strong interest in passenger-to-freighter conversions despite a slowdown in the narrowbody segment. The company’s EVP and general manager, Yaacov Berkovitz, highlighted that the market split is now primarily focus on larger aircraft such as the Airbus A330-300 and Boeing 777-300ER.
On September 4, IAI successfully completed its first Airbus A330-300BDSF cargo conversion, entering a competitive market led by established players like EFW. Berkovitz stated that the A330-300 offers significant revenue opportunities for lessors and airlines, especially with a reduced conversion turnaround time of just one hour, compared to the previous two and a half hours.
Regarding the Boeing 777-300ER, IAI received approval from the FAA and the Civil Aviation Authority of Israel for a 100-ton payload conversion program, with the first 12 aircraft already introduced into the market, accumulating over 35,000 hours. The company aims to complete passenger-to-freighter conversions within five months, allowing operators to quickly capitalize on the demand for widebody freighters.
Berkovitz emphasized the strong market interest, noting that many customers are awaiting 777 conversions due to their operational benefits. The first aircraft was delivered to U.S. carrier Kalitta Air, with AerCap serving as the launch customer. IAI also offers integrated maintenance checks during conversion, providing a consolidated service that appeals to the market.
Overall, IAI’s strategic positioning and the increasing order pipeline suggest a positive outlook for the widebody P2F conversion market, which is expected to grow in the coming years.
