A Boeing 767 freighter carrying 45 tonnes of goods is seen at the Bao'an International Airport in Shenzhen, south China's Guangdong Province, March 19, 2022.Photo:Xinhua

US plane maker Boeing announced on Tuesday that its first 767-300 Boeing Converted Freighter (BCF) conversion line in China was put into operation recently, together with Guangzhou Aircraft Maintenance Engineering Company (GAMECO).

The line, the latest move as part of Boeing's passenger-to-freighter conversion program designed to meet increased demand, has completed the conversion process of its first aircraft on schedule.

The launch of the 767-300BCF line at GAMECO is the latest in a series of capacity expansions to Boeing's passenger-to-freighter conversion programs, according to a press release sent to the Global Times by Boeing on Tuesday. Another 767-300BCF line is also planned for the same location in 2022.

It is located next to the site's three existing 737-800 BCF lines, making it the world's first plane maintenance and repair facility to convert both the 767-300BCF and 737-800BCF.

The 767-300BCF can carry out long-haul, regional and feeder markets flights. Boasting the lowest operating cost per trip among medium wide-body freighter conversions, it now has more than 100 orders and commitments globally, the company said.

Boeing forecasts a global need for 1,720 freighter conversions over the next 20 years, according to the 2021 Boeing Commercial Market Outlook.