IAI, Etihad to open B777 P2F conversion site in Abu Dhabi

Israel Aerospace Industries (Tel Aviv Ben Gurion) has partnered with Etihad Engineering, the maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) wing of Etihad Aviation Group, to open a B777-300(ER) conversion facility at Abu Dhabi Int’l airport.

“The Boeing B777-300(ER)(SF) is not only extremely attractive to customers but a technological breakthrough, given that it’s the first in its size category to offer extensive cargo solutions. Not only do we see the demand, but we view it as a greener, more profitable, highly innovative solution for our airline customers, and an excellent way to drive value for our business,” the Chief Executive of Etihad Aviation Group, Tony Douglas, said.

The companies underscored that the Abraham Accords enabled the partnership, a breakthrough political agreement signed in August 2020 wherein the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain (later joined by Sudan and Morocco) normalised diplomatic ties with Israel.

Besides conversion activities, the new facility in Abu Dhabi will also function as an MRO centre for the type.

IAI is currently the world’s only company that converts B777-300(ER)s into freighters. The programme, co-funded by the Israeli firm and lessor GECAS, is located at IAI’s main facility at Tel Aviv Ben Gurion airport. The first B777-300(ER)(SF), N557CC (msn 32789), entered into conversion in June 2020 and is currently undergoing certification flights split between Tel Aviv and San Bernardino. It has yet to receive a supplemental type certificate ahead of its entry into service planned for 2022. While many carriers have expressed tentative interest in the type, the only confirmed customer so far is Kalitta Air (K4, Detroit Willow Run), which signed up for five B777-300(ER)(SF)s in total. The Israeli firm is authorised to convert B737-700, B737-800, B767-200, and B767-300 types. Besides Tel Aviv, it has conversion sites at México City Int’l, Yichang, Tianjin, and Naples Capodichino airports. It plans to open another B777-300(ER) conversion site at Seoul Incheon airport in 2024, a B737 conversion facility at Siauliai airport in 2022, and a B767 site at Addis Ababa airport shortly.

For its part, Etihad Airways used to operate up to twenty-five B777-300(ER)s at one time but plans to retire all remaining 19 aircraft by the end of 2021. The carrier’s cargo fleet comprises five B777-200Fs, the ch-aviation fleets advanced module shows.