IAI aims to launch a wide-body aircraft P2F and MRO facility in India within two years.
Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) is negotiating with Indian aviation giants, including Hindustan Aeronautics (HAL), to establish a passenger-to-freighter (P2F) conversion facility for wide-body aircraft in India. IAI is targeting IndiGo and Air India as potential partners, with hopes of operationalizing the facility within two years, according to Shmuel Kuzi, IAI’s EVP (Aviation Group).
“There is a huge market for P2F conversion, and that is our forte,” Kuzi told TOI. IAI is currently converting Boeing 777s, capable of carrying 100 tonnes of cargo, a significant advancement compared to current twin-engine freighters which carry up to 60 tonnes.
IAI, which manufactures Gulfstream G280 and wings for F35 and F16, has facilities in Abu Dhabi, South Korea, and the US, all booked until 2027. Kuzi emphasised India’s potential for a wide-body conversion facility, with talks progressing with HAL and another company. Due to Middle East tensions, IAI aims to finalise the Indian facility by the end of the year, making it operational by 2026.
Investment for the facility will be a few million dollars, focusing on human resource training and infrastructure. Each hangar will convert approximately 2.1 planes annually, with an average conversion cost of $38 million per aircraft.
With over 1,200 aircraft on order by Indian carriers like IndiGo, Air India, and Akasa, Kuzi sees a substantial demand for wide-body conversions and engine maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) services in India. “We see no reason why IAI should not have an engine MRO in India,” he added.
