Leasing companies secure slots to convert aircraft for cargo

Several aircraft leasing companies on Thursday reserved production slots with aftermarket overhaul specialists to convert used passenger aircraft to cargo jets. The flurry of transactions illustrates that cargo operators continue to have an appetite for large and standard freighters even as demand for air shipping cools off in a murky economic environment. Lessors and investors have shown greater interest in freighters since the pandemic as airlines downsized and turned to more modern aircraft to save money. Conversions are a way for leasing companies to give assets a second life and continue generating returns at a lower cost point than a…