IAI to establish facility in Ethiopia for converting Boeing 767-300s into cargo aircraft
The Israeli company's newest aircraft conversion site, which is expected to be the largest and most advanced of its kind in Africa, will help meet rising demand for the cargo configuration of the jet
IsraelDefense
| 19/08/2021
Ethiopian Airlines Group CEO Tewolde GebreMariam (R) and IAI's Executive VP and Aviation Group General Manager Yossi Melamed. Photo: Alon Ron, IAI
Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) Aviation Group announced Thursday that it signed an agreement with Ethiopian Airlines to establish a site for converting Boeing 767-300 passenger aircraft into freighters. The new site, which will be located at the company's maintenance center in Addis Ababa, will help meet the rising demand for 767-300 cargo aircraft. IAI already operates conversion sites in Ben Gurion International Airport and in Mexico.
Ethiopian Airlines' maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) center is approved by the Ethiopian Civil Aviation Authority, the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), and the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA). The new site will be the largest and most advanced of its kind in Africa. It will provide solutions in the field of converting passenger aircraft to cargo configuration, aircraft maintenance and overhaul, staff training and guidance, as well as assistance in acquiring certification and licenses. The establishment of the center is a testament to IAI's growing impact around the world, according to IAI.
Yossi Melamed, IAI's Executive VP and Aviation Group General Manager, said "We are witnessing a sharp rise in the demand for cargo aircraft as a result of the rise in e-commerce, which has peaked to record levels during the COVID-19 pandemic. IAI has an excellent reputation as a conversion center of passenger-to-freighters aircraft, and we are constantly receiving requests to open such conversion centers in more and more locations around the world. I am excited by the opening of the current center in Ethiopia, and thank my colleagues in Ethiopian Airlines for the trust they have put in IAI's Aviation Group, as the world's leader in conversions."
Ethiopian Airlines Group CEO Tewolde GebreMariam said "In line with our Diversified Aviation Business Model of Vision 2025, we have been increasing our cargo capacity in fleet, ground service infrastructure and cargo connectivity network. Accordingly, we are partnering with IAI, one of the global technology leaders in the aerospace industry, in building a cargo conversion center in our MRO facilities in Addis Ababa Airport. The cargo conversion center will commence its first business with three Ethiopian Airlines owned B-767-300 aircraft. The cargo conversion center in ADD HUB airport will expand its services to all airlines in Africa and the wider region. We are very happy that we are able to collaborate with IAI to enable us to expand our cargo and logistics services, which is already the largest and leading cargo network in Africa. The capacity building will also help us expand our MRO services with cutting edge technology and knowledge transfer."
The Israeli company's newest aircraft conversion site, which is expected to be the largest and most advanced of its kind in Africa, will help meet rising demand for the cargo configuration of the jet
Ethiopian Airlines Group CEO Tewolde GebreMariam (R) and IAI's Executive VP and Aviation Group General Manager Yossi Melamed. Photo: Alon Ron, IAI
Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) Aviation Group announced Thursday that it signed an agreement with Ethiopian Airlines to establish a site for converting Boeing 767-300 passenger aircraft into freighters. The new site, which will be located at the company's maintenance center in Addis Ababa, will help meet the rising demand for 767-300 cargo aircraft. IAI already operates conversion sites in Ben Gurion International Airport and in Mexico.
Ethiopian Airlines' maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) center is approved by the Ethiopian Civil Aviation Authority, the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), and the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA). The new site will be the largest and most advanced of its kind in Africa. It will provide solutions in the field of converting passenger aircraft to cargo configuration, aircraft maintenance and overhaul, staff training and guidance, as well as assistance in acquiring certification and licenses. The establishment of the center is a testament to IAI's growing impact around the world, according to IAI.
Yossi Melamed, IAI's Executive VP and Aviation Group General Manager, said "We are witnessing a sharp rise in the demand for cargo aircraft as a result of the rise in e-commerce, which has peaked to record levels during the COVID-19 pandemic. IAI has an excellent reputation as a conversion center of passenger-to-freighters aircraft, and we are constantly receiving requests to open such conversion centers in more and more locations around the world. I am excited by the opening of the current center in Ethiopia, and thank my colleagues in Ethiopian Airlines for the trust they have put in IAI's Aviation Group, as the world's leader in conversions."
Ethiopian Airlines Group CEO Tewolde GebreMariam said "In line with our Diversified Aviation Business Model of Vision 2025, we have been increasing our cargo capacity in fleet, ground service infrastructure and cargo connectivity network. Accordingly, we are partnering with IAI, one of the global technology leaders in the aerospace industry, in building a cargo conversion center in our MRO facilities in Addis Ababa Airport. The cargo conversion center will commence its first business with three Ethiopian Airlines owned B-767-300 aircraft. The cargo conversion center in ADD HUB airport will expand its services to all airlines in Africa and the wider region. We are very happy that we are able to collaborate with IAI to enable us to expand our cargo and logistics services, which is already the largest and leading cargo network in Africa. The capacity building will also help us expand our MRO services with cutting edge technology and knowledge transfer."
