Texel Air (XLR, Bahrain International) has been named the launch customer for PEMCO's B737-700 Passenger-to-FlexCombi and Passenger-to-Freighter conversion program.

“We have also worked with PEMCO as the end customer for four previous B737-300 conversions including the current two aircraft in the Texel fleet," George Chisholm, the CEO of the Bahrain-based logistics specialist's parent firm, Chisholm Enterprises said in a statement. "We have benefited from the trouble-free PEMCO cargo system since 2009. We are very confident of a successful partnership with PEMCO on the B737-700FC.”

PEMCO says it will induct the first aircraft for B737-700 Passenger-to-FlexCombi modification at its Tampa International facilities later this quarter. It expects to receive a US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) supplemental type certification (STC) by mid-2018. After the initial issuance, PEMCO plans to certify both B737-700 conversion programs with the European Aviation Safety Agency and the Civil Aviation Administration of China shortly thereafter.

For its part, Texel Air operates two B737-300(F)s.