Supplemental Type Certificate enables mixed-configuration operations with five pallet positions forward and 90 passengers aft on modified airframe
MRO company KF Aerospace has gained certification for the world's first Boeing 737-800 combi conversion.
Transport Canada has officially approved the modification with the issuance of a Supplemental Type Certificate, meaning the aircraft can now enter service.
The modified aircraft features a forward cargo compartment with five pallet positions and a 90-passenger cabin in the aft section.
”This innovative layout makes it the first B737-800 aircraft of its kind anywhere in the world, with no comparable Combi currently in operation in the US, Europe, or other international markets,” the company said in a press release.
The first aircraft was completed and delivered to Air Inuit in October 2025 as part of the airline’s fleet modernisation.
The carrier also ordered a 737-800 converted freighter and a second combi aircraft.
The 737-800 Combi utilises the AEI 737-800SF large cargo door.
Robert Convey, senior vice president at AEI, said: “By combining AEI’s cargo door conversion expertise with KF’s engineering and operational strengths, we are able to deliver a world-first Combi that unlocks new possibilities for operators worldwide.”
The partners said that completion of the programme required a substantial redesign of the aircraft’s interior and systems to meet stringent certification requirements.
KF Aerospace engineered and integrated fire detection, halon-based fire suppression, and advanced smoke-containment systems for the forward cargo section, while also modifying existing freighter-specific detection systems to meet Combi-specific criteria.
"The effort resulted in the creation of hundreds of new parts and custom-engineered solutions to make this technically complex modification programme possible," the companies said.
KF Aerospace hopes the aircraft will meet customer requirements for a large-capacity mixed-use aircraft.
