Lessor BBAM is increasing the size of its portfolio of 737-800 Boeing Converted Freighters (BCF) under an order announced on Tuesday for nine more of the aircraft. The latest agreement brings BBAM’s total number of 737-800BCFs on order to 40, a number that has swelled since its first deal with Boeing in 2020 for three of the freighters.

John Lynch, senior v-p and head of freighter programs at BBAM, said the aircraft is opening new markets for the lessor. BBAM counts 550 mostly commercial passenger aircraft in its fleet, but demand for the freighters has surged, outpacing deliveries. 

San Francisco-based BBAM, now one of the largest customers for the freighter, continues to take delivery of 737-800BCFs from earlier orders. Lynch noted that it has placed the airplanes the airplanes it has taken so far with operators as well as those arriving over the next few months. The latest orders will continue delivery into 2024 and 2025.

In all, Boeing has collected orders from 20 customers for 250 of the freighter, with many of them repeat orders, said Anbessie Yitbarek, Boeing v-p of commercial services.

Boeing noted that BBAM will become the first to take delivery of a 737-800BCF from a new conversion line set to open next year at Kelowna, British Columbia-based KF Aerospace. Boeing last year announced plans to open two 737-800BCF conversion lines at the MRO provider.

BBAM holds slots at other Boeing MRO providers, including Cooperativa Autogestionario de Servicios Aeroindustrials in Costa Rica and Boeing Shanghai Aviation Services in China.