Boeing is upbeat about the Chinese market and is designing products and services to meet the demands of the growing e-commerce sector, according to a Boeing executive. Boeing provides more than 90% of the world's freighter capacity.
It forecasts that, over the next 20 years, there will be demand for more than 1,000 converted freighters the size of the 737-series. China's domestic air freight will account for one-third of the global market.
To meet the demand, Boeing will offer services including the 737-800 Boeing converted freighter (BCF) program.
Boeing has the 737-800 BCF program in Shanghai, launched in 2016, the converted planes will be certificated in the second to third quarter, and the planes will be delivered, on schedule, in the fourth quarter of 2017.
A passenger plane can be converted into a freighter after it has been in operation for approximately 15-20 years.