Herald staff
Boeing and United Parcel Service are close to a $1.5 billion deal to convert MD-11 airliners into freight carriers, the Wall Street Journal reported Friday.
A spokeswoman for Boeing Airplane Services in Bellevue said she could not confirm or deny the report, which she called "speculative."
"UPS is a great customer and we’re always talking to them," said Anne DeAngelis. But the companies have nothing to announce at this time, she added.
The deal could involve as many as 30 planes, to be delivered over five or six years, according to the report.
A second phase of the deal could involve 747-200 and 747-300 planes, the report added.
Boeing has an ongoing MD-11 conversion program, DeAngelis said. The work is done by contractors in Israel, Italy and Singapore, and at Boeing’s own conversion center in Wichita, Kan.
Boeing recently announced the launch of a 737 freighter-conversion program that would include the BF Goodrich Aerospace plant in Everett as a partner.
As many as 250 737s could be converted from passenger jets into cargo planes under the agreement, which also would see work done by contractors in Taiwan.
The first 737 conversion, to be done in Everett, is due to be completed by 2002.
Talk to us
- You can tell us about news and ask us about our journalism by emailing newstips@heraldnet.com or by calling 425-339-3428.
- If you have an opinion you wish to share for publication, send a letter to the editor to letters@heraldnet.com or by regular mail to The Daily Herald, Letters, P.O. Box 930, Everett, WA 98206.
- More contact information is here.
