TAIWAN FIRMS FORM FREIGHTER CONVERSION GROUP
Four Taiwan-based aviation companies have come together in hopes of
working with Boeing Co. to convert passenger planes to freighters.
The new group, including China Airlines, EVA Airways, Aerospace Industrial
Development Corp. and Air Asia Co., is negotiating a relationships with Boeing’s
Airplane Service unit, whereby the U.S. plane-maker will provide government-approved
conversion kits and engineering support. The Taiwanese companies will carry out the actual
conversion work.
A spokesman for the group cited rising demand for cargo capacity in Asia,
evidenced by China Airlines’ unprecedented $2.5 billion order of 13 B747-400
freighter aircraft in August.
Boeing anticipates demand for some 1,800 freighter conversions over the next
15 to 20 years.