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...
To read the full article, please log in or enter your email below:
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.
HENSOLDT has entered into a partnership with TUM Venture Labs, an initiative led by the Technical University of Munich and…
Startical, a collaboration between ENAIRE and Indra, has launched its first satellite, IOD-1 (In-Orbit Demonstrator-1), as part of the Transporter-13…
Korean Air is set to improve its services with an upgrade to airport lounges and the introduction of Premium Economy…
Thales and Malaysia Airlines have entered into a long-term agreement for the provision of avionics component availability and repair services…
Rafael Advanced Defence Systems Ltd. and Elbit Systems Ltd. have secured a contract to provide an Integrated Maritime Electronic Warfare…
The Indonesian government has announced that GMF AeroAsia, a subsidiary of the national carrier Garuda Indonesia, will establish an aircraft…
JetBlu and its fuel partners marked the first-ever regular supply of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) for commercial air travel in…
Overwatch, a British aerospace and defence group specialising in unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), has entered into a collaboration agreement with…
AEGEAN, Greece's largest airline, has confirmed an order for eight more Airbus A321neo aircraft to bolster its network and support…
SATS Ltd. (SATS) and Vietnam Airlines JSC (VNA) have entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to jointly build and…
The Air Astana Group reported significant growth in 2024, carrying nine million passengers across its two airline brands. This figure…
Airbus Helicopters concluded the VERTICON 2025 event in Dallas, United States, with 118 commitments, including 63 firm orders, for its…
The Royal Malaysian Navy (RMN) has received four additional Fast Interceptor Craft (FIC) G2000 MKII vessels at the TLDM base…
Systems Engineering & Assessment (SEA) Ltd. has extended its contract with Lumut Naval Shipyard (LUNAS) to supply a fixed triple…
Archer Aviation and Palantir Technologies are partnering to build the artificial intelligence (AI) foundation for next-gen aviation technologies. The companies…
The French Army has selected Exail to conduct a Tactical Evaluation (EVTA) of advanced driving simulators. The initiative is led…
GDAT, one of China’s most prominent helicopter operators, has signed an HCare In-Service contract with Airbus to cover ten H225…
Eve Air Mobility (Eve) and South Korea’s UI Helicopter have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to support the development…
At Verticon 2025 in Dallas, Leonardo announced securing nearly 30 helicopter orders for the AW109 GrandNew, AW169, AW139, and AW189…
Effective from 13th March 2025, Air Astana Group is introducing stricter regulations on the transport of lithium batteries and battery-powered…
DSA and NATSEC Asia 2026 is poised to build on the achievements of the 2024 event, where the Ministry of…
AAR CORP. has secured a multi-year agreement to deliver nacelle maintenance, repair, and overhaul services for Cebu Pacific Air's A320…
Exail has partnered with Abu Dhabi Ship Building (ADSB), part of the EDGE Group, and the Technology Innovation Institute (TII)…
The New York State Police has placed an order for one Airbus H160 and three H145 helicopters, becoming the first…
Clarivate has released its 2025 Top 100 Global Innovators list, recognising organisations that are advancing technology research and innovation. Among…
Indra Group has introduced IndraMind, an intelligence system aimed at enhancing the automation of critical operations and improving multi-domain operational…
The UK’s National Police Air Service (NPAS) has placed an order for seven Airbus H135 helicopters as part of the…
Metro Aviation has signed an agreement with Airbus Helicopters for up to 36 H140 helicopters to be used in emergency…
Aircraft leasing company Jackson Square Aviation (JSA) has placed an order for 50 Airbus A320neo Family aircraft. This marks JSA’s…
Global Medical Response (GMR) has signed an agreement with Airbus Helicopters for up to 15 H140 helicopters for emergency medical…
Headquartered in Singapore with reporters spread across all major regions, GBP Aerospace & Defence is a leading media house that publishes three publications that serve the aerospace and defence sector - Asian Defence Technology, Asian Airlines & Aerospace and Daily News. Known industry-wide for quality journalism, GBP Aerospace & Defence is present at more international tradeshows and exhibitions than any other competing publication in the region.
For over three decades, our award-winning team of reporters has been producing top-notch content to help readers stay abreast of the latest developements in the field of commercial aviation, MRO, defence, and Space.
Copyright 2024. GBP. All Rights Reserved.
Home Defence & Security Space Commercial Aviation Maintence Repair & Overhaul Daily News Events About Us
2025 GBP all rights reserved.