Pemco inks Asia Pacific freighter conversion alliance with Gameco

Asia-Pacific's booming market for passenger to freighter aircraft conversions, fueled by e-commerce demand for parcel delivery networks, has another strategic alliance put in place.

Boeing 737 passenger-to-freighter conversion specialist Pemco World Air Services has reached agreement with China-based MRO Guangzhou Aircraft Maintenance Engineering Co (Gameco) to perform B737-700, -400 and -300 reconfigurations in the Asia-Pacific region.

The agreement follows the launch of Pemco’s B737-700 FlexCombi and full-freighter conversion programs announced in April this year.

Pemco is a division of Airborne Maintenance and Engineering Services (AMES),  a wholly owned subsidiary of Air Transport Services Group (ATSG). It was acquired in January 2017.

Pemco director of conversion programs Mike Andrews said: “With the continued success of Pemco’s B737-300 and -400 conversion programs and the launch of the -700 programs, it’s imperative that we expand capacity to meet customer demand.”

Gameco general manager Norbert Marx said: “Pemco is a key player in the conversion market, especially in the Asian-Pacific region, and Gameco is one of the leading MROs in China.

“We bring a huge capacity, vast structural experiences and broad capabilities into this partnership. Together we will deliver cost effective and comprehensive one-stop solutions to our customers. We are very pleased to be adding a new chapter to our passenger-to-freighter conversion business in these very promising times.”

Andrews added: “We’re committed to serving our international customers and are prepared to grow with the rise in freighter demand in China.”

Gameco is the fifth Pemco conversion partner and the third in China. It will join China-based STAECO and TAECO, Costa Rica-based Coopesa, and Canada-based KF Aerospace in providing conversion services for Pemco’s customers.

Pemco has been converting B737 aircraft in Asia since 2006, when it delivered the very first B737-300 converted freighter in China.