Boeing has announced a new partnership with Costa Rica-based Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) provider Cooperativa Autogestionaria de Servicios Aeroindustriales (COOPESA) to augment the manufacturer’s conversion capacity for the 737-800 Boeing Converted Freighter (BCF) – a partnership which occurred as a consequence of the increased demand recorded for the said aircraft.
According to sources, Boeing is set to open two conversion lines with COOPESA in Costa Rica – the first being expected to open early in 2022, and the second to follow suit later in the same year.
Jens Steinhagen, Director of Boeing Freighter Conversions expressed pleasure in the partnership: “COOPESA has demonstrated the technical expertise and commitment to the quality and execution necessary to help us meet the growing customer demand for the 737-800BCF. Boeing is pleased to have COOPESA join our team of MRO partners as we deliver our market-leading converted freighters to customers around the world”, he said.
The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of COOPESA, Kenneth Waugh on his part, said that COOPESA looks forward to “helping Boeing meet market demand” by providing the “technical quality and the skilled workforce” the project needs.
Boeing currently converts 737-800 passenger jets to freighters at three different locations in China. The newly signed partnership is expected to provide the avenue to meet the demand for the 737-800BCF – demand which has been strongly driven by express and e-commerce markets in recent times.
