EVA receives first of several Bedek-converted 747SFs

Taiwan’s EVA Air has received the first Boeing 747-400 special freighter it contracted Israel Aircraft Industries’ (IAI) Bedek division to convert from passenger configuration.

An EVA spokeswoman in Taipei says the aircraft was recently put into commercial service and is the first of five 747-400 combi aircraft that EVA is getting converted to full freighters.

EVA is also getting IAI to convert three 747-400 all-passenger aircraft into full freighters, she says.

This year IAI will return another two converted aircraft to the airline, in 2008 two more and three in 2009, she adds.

EVA says in a statement it decided to get the aircraft converted to freighters because it wants to grow its cargo business and is able to withdraw the 747s from passenger services because it has been adding Airbus A330 and Boeing 777 passenger aircraft.

Source: FlightGlobal.com