Boeing and Guangzhou Aircraft Maintenance Engineering Company (GAMECO) have signed an agreement to create additional capacity for the 767-300 Boeing Converted Freighter (BCF).

GAMECO will open two new 767-300BCF conversion lines next year, as the partners said the expanded capacity was necessitated by “continued strong market demand”.

A signing ceremony between Boeing and GAMECO was conducted at the China International Aviation & Aerospace Exhibition in Zhuhai (pictured above).

“It was mutually beneficial to continue building our relationship with GAMECO to provide additional conversion capacity for the 767-300BCF while supporting growth in the region,” said Boeing’s vice president commercial sales and marketing for China Peter Gao.

“GAMECO has demonstrated excellent execution on the 737-800BCF programme. We know it will bring the same expertise and proven capability to help deliver our medium widebody freighter conversions to our global customers.”

GAMECO will be the first MRO in China to convert the 767-300BCF and the only MRO converting both the 767-300BCF and the 737-800BCF. Earlier this year, GAMECO announced plans to open a third 737-800BCF conversion line.

“GAMECO is very proud to extend its relationship with Boeing and their converted freighter programme to include another aircraft type,” said GAMECO’s general manager Norbert Marx. “The introduction of the 767-300BCF programme further grows GAMECO’s regional presence and enhances our strategic focus around meeting the strong customer demand. We will open the 767-300BCF conversion lines in our new hangar.”

Boeing forecasts 1,720 freighter conversions will be needed over the next 20 years. Of those, 520 will be widebody conversions with Asia carriers accounting for more than 40 per cent of that demand. The 767-300BCF has more than 95 orders and commitments.