FTAI Aviation and AEI announced a strategic partnership on 7 July 2026 to deliver a more cost-effective Boeing 737-800 freighter solution globally. The collaboration merges FTAI’s CFM56 engine maintenance capabilities with AEI’s 60-year cargo conversion leadership to scale customized 737-800BCF production at lower lifecycle cost. By integrating engines optimized for cargo economics with proven conversion expertise, the partners target express carriers and integrators needing frequent, time-definite flights on short- and medium-haul routes. This approach addresses the current constraint in narrowbody freight growth—the lack of an engine solution designed for cargo economics—while leveraging the 737-800’s 6,000-unit production scale to anchor the freighter market for years. No delivery timeline or aircraft count was disclosed.