Atlas Air Worldwide Holdings has signed a contract with Boeing calling for the conversion of nine 767 passenger airplanes into Boeing Converted Freighters (BCF), the companies announced Tuesday. Boeing announced an order for four of the nine conversions at July’s Farnborough International Airshow, attributed to an unidentified customer.

Boeing's current market outlook forecasts a need for 400 widebody conversions over the next two decades, including a strong demand for 767 freighter conversions due to a rise in e-commerce. In May Atlas signed a deal with Amazon to fly 20 Boeing 767-300s for the online retailer under a 10-year lease deal that grants Amazon rights to acquire as much as 30 percent of the cargo carrier.

Atlas Worldwide subsidiaries Atlas Air, Southern Air Holdings, Titan Aviation and Polar Air Cargo operate all-Boeing fleets consisting of 747s, 777s, 767s, 757s and 737s.  

Boeing has converted sixteen 767-300 passenger jets to freighters since it launched the program with a firm order for three from All Nippon Airways in 2005. For the conversion to freighter configuration, a 767-300 passenger airplane receives major modifications to its main deck, including a side cargo door and surround structure, floor beams and struts, floor panels, freighter tracks and wall and ceiling liners.