The continued clashes between Israel and the Houthi rebels in Yemen signal that the Suez Canal and the Red sea will be closed for cargo ships for a long time. The assessment brings the demand for air cargo to unprecedented peaks.
The prevailing situation has increased the demand for aircraft conversion to all time high. The aviation group of Israel aerospace industries (IAI), which is one of the leading conversion centers in the world, has plans to open more subsidiaries to answer the demand.
One of the most significant waterways in the world, the Suez Canal, is being avoided by hundreds of vessels due to the Red Sea shipping crisis, which is the result of Houthi rebel attacks on cargo ships and tankers. Rather, these ships are being compelled to take an extended detour across southern Africa, adding 4,000 miles to each voyage. The conflict has led to a sharp increase in air cargo demand. Rising shipping rates, longer transit times, and supply chain delays are pressuring airfreight capacity.
Even before the Houthi attacks on cargo ships in the Red sea since war broke out on Oct 7, the conversion business of the Aviation group of IAI had reached unprecedented numbers.
According to Shmuel Kuzi, Exec VP & general manager of Israel aerospace industries (IAI) aviation group, the group is in the process of operating three conversion centers – in the U.S , Abu Dhabi and South Korea. “We also plan to open two additional conversion facilities in foreign countries , one of them in Europe,” he added.
Kuzi says the demand for the conversion of Boing 777-300 from passenger to cargo configuration is in an all-time peak. “Our facility in Israel is full for the foreseeable future and the three new conversion centers in other countries, will allow us to handle this demand that is going to grow “
In parallel, the aviation group of IAI is working to start the conversion of the Airbus-A330 .
“We also started to work on a program for the conversion of the Boeing 787 . We do everything to be at least one step ahead of any competition. Our expertise allows us to work full volume on some major conversion programs in parallel,” Kuzi added.
The aviation group of IAI has been the major facility for the conversion of the Boeing 767.
” Seven of ten Boeing 767 have been converted in our facilities,” Kuzi said.
In May 2023, IAI signed an agreement with Sharp Technics K (Sharp) and Incheon International Airport Corporation, to establish a facility for the passenger-to-freight conversion of Boeing 777-ERSF (Big Twin) aircraft in South Korea. In September that year, IAI and Marana Aerospace Solutions, Inc. d/b/a Ascent Aviation Services announced that they had signed a long-term agreement to establish a conversion site and carry out passenger-to-freighter conversions on Boeing 777-300ER aircraft. Within the framework of the collaboration agreement, IAI plans to have Ascent convert two lines of Boeing B777-300ER aircraft, starting in 2024 in Ascent’s facilities located in Marana, Arizona, USA.
The Aviation group of IAI is also very active in supplying systems and spares for aircraft around the world. “This year, the turnover from this part of our activity, supplying systems and spare parts, will be US$45 million,” Kuzi said. He added that the group plans to open two centers for the fast supply of spare systems and parts for civil aircraft in foreign countries to shorten the delivery time. Two places are being evaluated now – the U.S and South America.
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