US aircraft manufacturer Boeing plans to set up a 737-800BCF (Boeing Converted Freighter) building site in Alajuela, Costa Rica to meet growing demand from the e-commerce and cargo sector.
The company will set up two production lines in partnership with a domicile overhaul provider, Cooperativa Autogestionaria de Servicios Aeroindustriales (COOPESA). Boeing expects the first line to be commissioned early next year while the second will be operational later in 2022.
The manufacturer noted that demand for BCFs is estimated at around 1,500 units over the next 20 years, of which 1,080 are expected to be sold into the Americas. At present, Boeing operates three converter facilities in China in Shanghai, Guangzhou, and Jinan. The 737-800BCF is a freight aircraft converted from 737-800 commercial passenger airliners.