The specialist in cargo conversions AEI is accelerating in the segment of converted single-aisle aircraft: the company has started work on the second Boeing 737-800SF destined for Hainan Airlines, within its industrial network, with a stop at the partner workshop GCAM. This increase in pace confirms a very clear trend in air freight: the appetite for converted aircraft remains strong, as they offer a sought-after compromise between capacity, cost, and speed of availability.
For companies, these conversions serve several objectives: to densify domestic or regional cargo networks, support e-commerce flows, and reduce dependence on more volatile long-haul capacities. On the market side, every new program that moves “without friction” is scrutinized, as the availability of industrial slots, the management of MRO supply chains, and the delivery schedule have become critical factors.
Beyond the Hainan case, the information reinforces a trend: the converted 737-800 is emerging as a “workhorse” format, capable of absorbing regular volumes over distances compatible with express and B2B patterns, while maintaining a more digestible cost structure than larger aircraft.
