Eye on cargo demand: Boeing, GMR to set up country's first conversion facility for planes

Global aerospace manufacturer Boeing and aircraft maintenance company GMR Aero Technic on March 10 announced a partnership to set up India's first freighter conversion facility in Hyderabad.

“We are partnering with GMR for converted freighters facility in Hyderabad, Telangana,” Marc Allen, Chief Strategy Officer at Boeing said.

The converted freighter project will roll out soon, GMR Aero Technic CEO Ashok Gopinath said.

“Globally, 1,720 freighter conversion is likely to happen annually of which many will now be done in India, Boeing India,” Salil Gupte, President, Boeing India said.

He said the exact date of the facility becoming operational cannot be predicted, and much depends on orders from airlines but over the next 18 months, work on the freighter conversion project will go on.

“India has the potential to become a cargo hub. We are in talks with all major airlines for conversion to freighters,” Gupte said.

Boeing, which manufactured up to 40 aircraft a month in its US-based facility before the Covid pandemic, has also been hit by supply chain disruptions.

“Boeing will take a couple of years to overcome supply chain disruptions and be back to pre-Covid aircraft deliveries. Boeing will be the leader in engineering capabilities. We will continue to be the leader of exports from India in aircraft parts,” Gupte said.

Currently, Boeing sources aircraft components worth $1 billion from India annually.