FTAI Aviation and AEI Partner on Lower-Cost Boeing 737-800 Freighter Solution

FTAI Aviation and Aeronautical Engineers, Inc. (AEI) have entered into a strategic collaboration aimed at expanding the availability of Boeing 737-800 freighters by combining aircraft conversion expertise with engine maintenance capabilities.

The partnership is designed to provide airlines with a more cost-effective freighter offering by integrating AEI’s passenger-to-freighter conversion programs with FTAI’s CFM56 engine support and maintenance services. The companies expect the collaboration to improve operating economics while supporting increased demand for narrowbody cargo aircraft.

“The Boeing 737-800 is poised to become the workhorse of narrowbody freight, but growth has been constrained by the lack of an engine solution designed for cargo economics,” said David Moreno, President of FTAI. “We can build and maintain lower cycle engines customized for cargo enabling FTAI and AEI to deliver aircraft at a significantly lower operating cost. This collaboration adds cargo to FTAI’s CFM56 platform, extending the engine’s lifecycle across passenger, cargo and power.”

AEI said the partnership builds on its long-standing position in the passenger-to-freighter conversion market, where it has developed more than 130 Supplemental Type Certificates (STCs) and completed modifications on more than 625 aircraft.

“AEI has led the global narrowbody freighter conversion market for over 60 years and has converted more aircraft than any other provider in the industry,” said Robert T. Convey, Senior Vice President at AEI. “Combining our conversion expertise with FTAI’s engine maintenance services gives airlines a proven path to freighter capacity built for the long term.”

The Boeing 737-800 remains the most-produced narrowbody aircraft, with nearly 6,000 deliveries, providing a substantial installed base for future cargo conversions. By pairing engine lifecycle management with conversion capabilities, the companies aim to offer operators a scalable freighter platform with lower long-term operating costs.

The collaboration also broadens FTAI’s CFM56 engine business by extending support across passenger, cargo and power generation applications while strengthening AEI’s ability to deliver converted aircraft for airlines seeking additional cargo capacity.