ALASKA Air Cargo has taken delivery of the first of two 737-800 Boeing Converted Freighter (BCF) aircraft from lessor Babcock & Brown Aircraft Management (BBAM).
The US cargo carrier plans to use the aircraft for expanded freight service in Alaska and beyond in the coming months.
The two 737-800 aircraft are from Alaska Airlines' existing passenger fleet, reports London's Air Cargo News.
The first aircraft recently completed conversion at Cooperativa Autogestionaria de Servicios Aeroindustriales (COOPESA), a maintenance facility in Costa Rica.
A second aircraft will be converted by Boeing at KF Aerospace in British Columbia. Alaska Cargo plans to have both BCFs in service by the end of the first quarter of next year.
"We look forward to welcoming this first of two Boeing 737-800s into our current fleet," said Adam Drouhard, managing director of Alaska Air Cargo. "These additional aircraft will nearly double our current cargo capacity and extend the range of our network for our customers.
"We appreciate BBAM and Boeing's support in converting these former Alaska Airlines passenger aircraft to freighters and allowing us to expand our lift at Alaska Air Cargo."
"BBAM is excited to deliver its first Boeing 737-800BCF aircraft to Alaska Airlines. The aircraft will deliver flexibility, capability and operational efficiency across Alaska Air Cargo's growing cargo network. We look forward to continuing our successful partnership with Alaska," added Steve Zissis, president and chief executive of BBAM.
This is the fifth and sixth North American placement of the 737-800BCF for BBAM as part of its commitment with Boeing for forty conversions of the type.
from: shippingazette