Boeing has reached agreement with Dublin-based aircraft management company ASL Aviation Holdings for 20 737-800 Boeing Converted Freighter (BCF) modifications.

The memorandum of understanding spans 10 firm orders and 10 purchase rights.

Deliveries to ASL will start in 2020 and continue for "the next couple of years", says Alvey Pratt, director for converted freighters and complex modifications at Boeing Global Services.

Hugh Flynn, ASL's chief executive, states: "Having operated two leased 737-800BCFs across our European network, we are very pleased with how the flexibility and reliability of these freighters fulfill our operational needs in meeting our customer requirements."

ASL operates on six continents, providing network solutions to express freight integrators. It transported over 357,000cb m of cargo last year.

The ASL deal brings the 737-800BCF backlog to a total of 120 orders and commitments, from eight customers. The airframer recently inaugurated new conversion lines at Boeing Shanghai Aviation Services (BSAS) and Taikoo (Shandong) Aircraft Engineering Company (STAECO).

Conversions currently take 90 days, says Pratt. The company is more than doubling 737-800BCF output this year, from eight conversions in 2018 to 17 in 2019.

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Source: Cirium Dashboard