The Israeli Aviation Industry Corporation (IAI) Aviation Group has signed an agreement with Etihad Engineering Corporation to establish a passenger-to-cargo conversion base for Boeing 777-3000ER aircraft.
The new modification center will operate as the company’s repair center in Abu Dhabi and will provide solutions to the growing global demand for this type of freighter. In addition to the existing transfer line located in the Ben Gurion International Airport Company Park, the Abu Dhabi transfer center complements other global cargo transfer stations operated by IAI.
Etihad Engineering is the largest commercial aircraft maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) service provider in the Middle East. Its center in Abu Dhabi will become the largest and most advanced center certified by the UAE Civil Aviation Authority in the Middle East. The Federal Aviation Administration of the United States and the European Aviation Safety Agency. At the conversion center, the passenger aircraft will be converted to a cargo aircraft configuration, and maintenance, refurbishment and overhaul services will be provided.
Boaz Levy, President and CEO of IAI: “The Abraham Agreement gives IAI the opportunity to expand its global activities to the Gulf region. IAI is active in more than 100 countries around the world. The establishment of a conversion site in cooperation with Etihad Engineering Corporation proves IAI’s strong relationship with the UAE and strengthens I believe that this agreement will establish more partnerships with local companies in the Gulf countries, which will develop our business in the region.”
Yossi Melamed, Executive Vice President and General Manager of IAI Aviation Group Said: “The world’s leading cargo modification provider IAI Aviation Group has begun to cooperate with GECAS on the structural modification of the Boeing 777-300ERSF, providing leading professional solutions for the air cargo industry. Over the years, Etihad Engineering has obtained IAI The highest professional recognition of the aviation group. The Abraham agreement allows us to see the company’s management personnel, to see their capabilities and dedication, and also to witness the company’s strong capabilities in the field of jet maintenance. The agreement we signed is for Israel and The relationship between the Gulf countries has added an important level. I have no doubt that under this agreement, more agreements will be reached with companies in the region, which will benefit all interested parties economically. I want to thank the CEO of the company Tony Douglas and my friend Abdul Khaliq Saeed, thank them for their efforts to realize the first cooperation agreement between IAI and Etihad Airways Efforts. I am eagerly looking forward to the moment when the B777-300ERSF jet, which is jointly modified by IAI and Etihad Engineering, will take off and serve customers all over the world.”
Tony Douglas, CEO of Etihad Aviation Group, Said: “The Boeing 777-300ERSF is not only very attractive to customers, but also a technological breakthrough because it is the first of its kind to provide a wide range of freight solutions. We not only see the demand, but also It is seen as a more environmentally friendly, more profitable, highly innovative solution for our airline customers, and an excellent way to create value for our business.”
Abdul Khaliq Saeed, CEO of Etihad Engineering, Said: “We are very pleased to announce the cooperation with IAI, which will maximize the potential of our highly skilled workforce and consolidate Etihad Engineering Corporation’s position as the Abu Dhabi Center of Excellence, in line with Abu Dhabi’s 2030 economy Vision. Our commitment to the P2F program demonstrates our confidence in IAI’s ability to provide long-term value enhancement for the B777-300ER in the global fleet.”
The aviation group of Israel Aerospace Industries is the hometown of aviation in Israel, uniting all the activities of human flying aircraft: maintenance (MRO), business jets, conversion of passenger jets to cargo configurations, hangars and aviation arrays, aircraft upgrades, etc. With nearly 70 years of aviation knowledge and accumulated experience, excellent human capital and groundbreaking technology, the group is aligned with the world’s leading airlines. Its customers include some of the world’s leading companies, such as Amazon, DHL, Lockheed Martin, Boeing, Gulfstream, etc.
