FTAI Aviation and Aeronautical Engineers, Inc. (AEI) have formed a partnership to offer a lower-cost Boeing 737-800 freighter solution for airlines worldwide by combining engine maintenance and passenger-to-freighter conversion services.
The collaboration brings together FTAI’s CFM56 engine maintenance capabilities with AEI’s expertise in cargo conversions to deliver customised freighter aircraft with lower operating costs and improved long-term economics.
The companies said the partnership is designed to support growing demand for narrow-body freighters, with the Boeing 737-800 expected to play a leading role in the global cargo market. FTAI will provide and maintain lower-cycle CFM56 engines tailored for cargo operations, while AEI will contribute its established conversion expertise.
The Boeing 737-800 is the world’s most-produced narrow-body aircraft, with nearly 6,000 deliveries, providing a large platform for future freighter conversions. AEI has developed more than 130 Supplemental Type Certificates (STCs) and has completed over 625 aircraft conversions, making it the industry’s largest passenger-to-freighter conversion provider.
