IAI and Partners Launch Boeing 777-300ER Freighter Conversion Programme in North America

## IAI and Partners Launch Boeing 777-300ER Freighter Conversion Programme in North America Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI), Ascent Aviation Services and World Star Aviation have announced the formal commencement of Boeing 777-300ERSF passenger-to-freighter conversions in North America, with the first aircraft arriving at Ascent's facility in Marana, Arizona, according to a joint statement issued via PR Newswire. The milestone marks the launch of IAI's 777-300ERSF conversion programme on North American soil, bringing large-capacity freighter production capability closer to key operators and lessors in the region. The Marana facility, operated by Ascent Aviation Services, serves as the designated conversion centre for the programme. ### Significance for Air Cargo Capacity The Boeing 777-300ER is one of the most widely operated long-haul widebody passenger aircraft in the world, and its conversion to freighter configuration — designated the 777-300ERSF — is widely regarded as a critical pathway to expanding global air cargo capacity. The converted aircraft offers substantial payload and volume advantages over older freighter types, making it an attractive asset for carriers serving transoceanic trade lanes, including those supporting maritime-adjacent supply chains such as time-sensitive cargo and perishables. Demand for converted freighter capacity has remained robust in the post-pandemic logistics environment, driven by e-commerce growth and ongoing supply chain diversification strategies among major shippers. The 777-300ERSF programme positions IAI as a key player in meeting that demand alongside rival conversion programmes from other MRO providers. ### Programme Partners IAI, headquartered in Israel, brings established expertise in large aircraft conversion programmes, having previously delivered the 767-300BDSF freighter conversion. Ascent Aviation Services provides the MRO infrastructure and technical workforce at Marana, while World Star Aviation contributes commercial and operational support to the programme. The commencement of North American conversions is expected to reduce turnaround times for operators based in the Americas compared with sending aircraft to overseas conversion facilities, offering both logistical and cost efficiencies. While the 777-300ERSF programme is primarily an aviation industry development, its implications extend to the broader freight and logistics sector that underpins global maritime trade, as air and sea cargo networks increasingly operate in an integrated fashion across international supply chains. *Source: PR Newswire*