CATHAY PACIFIC CARGO / B747-8F / B-LJB

Ton Jochems - AMS
 

CARGOLUX / B747-8F / LX-VCH

Ton Jochems - AMS
 

Air Belgium (Sichuan Logistics c/s) / B747-8F / OO-LFC

Ton Jochems
 

Nippon Cargo Airlines (Japan) has for the first time used Neste (Finland) MY Sustainable Aviation for several cargo flights in November and December 2022

Aviator Daily News
Photo: Duncan Stewart

 

Final Boeing 747 Airplane Leaves Everett Factory

- The final 747-8 Freighter will be delivered to Atlas Air in early 2023

- Iconic plane transformed global travel after entering service in 1970

EVERETT, Wash., Dec. 6, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The last Boeing (NYSE: BA) 747 left the company's widebody factory in advance of its delivery to Atlas Air in early 2023.
"For more than half a century, tens of thousands of dedicated Boeing employees have designed and built this magnificent airplane that has truly changed the world. We are proud that this plane will continue to fly across the globe for years to come," said Kim Smith, Boeing Vice President and general manager, 747 and 767 Programs.
The 747 has played a key role in Boeing's history of aerospace leadership.
• Production of the 747, the world's first twin-aisle airplane, began in 1967 and spanned 54 years, during which a total of 1,574 airplanes were built.
• At 250 ft 2 in (76.2 m), the 747-8 is the longest commercial aircraft in service. At typical cruising speeds, the 747-8 travels roughly the length of three FIFA soccer fields or NFL football fields, per second.
• The final airplane is a 747-8 Freighter. This model has a revenue payload of 133.1 tonnes, enough to transport 10,699 solid-gold bars or approximately 19 million ping-pong balls or golf balls.
As a leading global aerospace company, Boeing develops, manufactures and services commercial airplanes, defense products and space systems for customers in more than 150 countries. As a top U.S. exporter, the company leverages the talents of a global supplier base to advance economic opportunity, sustainability and community impact. Boeing's diverse team is committed to innovating for the future, leading with sustainability, and cultivating a culture based on the company's core values of safety, quality and integrity. Join our team and find your purpose at boeing.com/careers.

 

Atlas Air to operate B747-8Fs for Kuehne+Nagel

Atlas Air announced that it has signed a long-term ACMI-contract with Kuehne+Nagel, in which the airline will operate two dedicated B747-8Fs for the German logistic company. The first Jumbo is entering service in the third quarter of 2022, with the second following in the fourth quarter.

The two B747-8Fs are part of the four B747-8Fs Atlas Air ordered last year and will be the last two B747s to be built.

Illustration by Atlas Air.

Air Belgium to operate B747-8Fs for Hongyuan Group

Photo:Steven Picalausa - Brussels


In December, we reported that Air Belgium was planning to add the B747-8F to its fleet and that these would, most likely, be operated for CMA CGM. Now, the Hongyuan Group has announced that the Belgian carrier will be operating a duo of Jumbojets for the Chinese company.

The aircraft involved are the two former Saudia B747-8Fs which have been acquired recently by Hongyuan. Originally, the plan was that they would be operated by AirBridgeCargo but this is clearly changed.

 

The first aircraft ready for operations is M-ABOW (37563, former HZ-AI4), which is wearing a hybrid Air Belgium/Saudia/Hongyuan-livery and will be added to the Belgian register soon.


At the same time of announcing the delivery of the aircraft, Hongyuan Group has also said it's planning to acquire 49,95% of the shares in Air Belgium. The airline currently operates two A330-900s, four A330-200Fs (owned by and operated for CMA CGM) and two A340-300s.


Photo by Hongyuan Group.

Atlas Air Worldwide Purchases Four Boeing 747-8 Freighters

Freighters to add additional capacity to meet growing e-commerce and express cargo demand

Order will complete production of the 747-8 in 

2022SEATTLE, Jan. 12, 2020 – Boeing [NYSE: BA] and Atlas Air Worldwide today announced an agreement to purchase four 747-8 Freighters. The order enables Atlas Air to leverage the operational advantages of the 747-8 Freighter to meet growing cargo demand around the globe.

“The 747-8F is the best and most versatile widebody freighter in the market, and we are excited to bolster our fleet with the acquisition of these four aircraft,” said John W. Dietrich, Atlas Air Worldwide President and Chief Executive Officer. “This significant growth opportunity will enable us to capitalize on strong demand and deliver value for our existing and prospective customers. The efficiency and capability of the 747-8F further complements our longstanding focus on leading edge technology. Dedicated freighters – like those operated by our Atlas, Polar and Southern subsidiaries – will continue to be in demand as the global airfreight market, particularly the e-commerce and express sectors, continues to grow.”

With a maximum payload capacity of 137.7 metric tonnes (137,750 kg), the 747-8 Freighter allows customers to access 20% more payload capacity while using 16% less fuel compared to previous-generation 747s. The jet also features 30% quieter engines. The 747-8 airplanes in this agreement will be the final four aircraft to roll off the production line in Everett, Washington.

“The 747 will forever hold a special place in aviation history and we are honored by Atlas Air’s longstanding commitment to the airplane. Atlas Air began operations 28 years ago with a single 747 and it is fitting that they should receive the last 747 production airplanes, ensuring that the ‘Queen of the Skies’ plays a significant role in the global air cargo market for decades to come,” said Stan Deal, president and chief executive officer of Boeing Commercial Airplanes. “With the global air cargo fleet expected to grow by more than 60% over the next 20 years, we look forward to delivering these airplanes and supporting Atlas Air’s Boeing fleet well into the future.”

Atlas Air has 53 747s in its current fleet, making it the largest 747 operator in the world. Its world-class fleet also includes 737s, 767s and 777s. The 747 and 777 models, in particular, are capable of carrying tall and outsized cargo loads on 3-meter-high (10-foot-tall) pallets. This common main-deck pallet height supports interchangeable pallets, adding to the versatility of both models.

Boeing, the market leader in air cargo aircraft, provides more than 90% of the dedicated freighter capacity around the world, including new production and converted freighters. The 747 program has produced 1,560 aircraft since launching the jumbo jet more than 50 years ago. In July 2020, Boeing announced its decision to complete production of the 747-8 in 2022.

About The Boeing Company

Boeing is the world’s largest aerospace company and leading provider of commercial airplanes, defense, space and security systems, and global services. As a top U.S. exporter, the company supports commercial and government customers in more than 150 countries, leveraging the talents of a global supplier base. Building on a legacy of aerospace leadership, Boeing continues to lead in technology and innovation, deliver for its customers and invest in its people and future growth.

About Atlas Air Worldwide

Atlas Air Worldwide is a leading global provider of outsourced aircraft and aviation operating services. It is the parent company of Atlas Air, Inc., Southern Air Holdings, Inc. and Titan Aviation Holdings, Inc., and is the majority shareholder of Polar Air Cargo Worldwide, Inc. Our companies operate the world’s largest fleet of 747 freighter aircraft and provide customers the broadest array of Boeing 747, 777, 767 and 737 aircraft for domestic, regional and international cargo and passenger operations.

ShunFeng Airlines - Boeing 747-4EVERF - MSN 35173 - B-242

Steven Picalausa

One of our 747-8 freighters, LX-VCF has received its very own mask on its iconic nose-door, reflecting the airline’s commitment to the fight against COVID-19

Cargolux

Boeing to end B747 production in 2022 - report

Faced with a lack of new orders, Boeing (BOE, Chicago O'Hare) has reportedly firmed up plans to close its B747 production line in about two years time once all outstanding orders are completed, Bloomberg said.

The manufacturer did not confirm the development and said only that it would continue to make the "right decisions" to keep the line "healthy and meet customer needs".

"At a build rate of 0.5 airplanes per month, the 747-8 program has more than two years of production ahead of it in order to fulfil our current customer commitments," Boeing said.

However, according to an industry source quoted by Reuters, the manufacturer has already concluded agreements with suppliers to deliver the last B747 assembly sets.

According to the ch-aviation fleets advanced module, Boeing has 16 outstanding orders for B747-8(F)s (13 from UPS Airlines (5X, Louisville Int'l) and three from Volga-Dnepr Airlines (VI, Ulyanovsk Vostochny)). The manufacturer and Volga-Dnepr are involved in a court dispute over the delivery of the freighters. One unit for Korean Air (KE, Seoul Incheon) is undergoing completion.

While Boeing has no firm orders left for the passenger variant B747-8, two units not taken up by Transaero Airlines (UN, Moscow Vnukovo) are currently being refitted as new presidential aircraft for the United States Air Force. A further B747-8(BBJ) for a private customer is also awaiting delivery.
ch aviation

Photo: KPB - FRA

UPS - B747-8F - N613UP

Brian Worthington - Boeing - USA

QATAR CARGO - B747-800F - A7-BGA

Ton Jochems - AMS

Azerbaijan Airlines wants Boeing to continue production of 747-8F freighter

The country will need around 20 such aircraft in the next 10 years (Fyodor Borisov / Transport-Photo.com)

Jahangir Askerov, CEO of Azerbaijan Airlines (AZAL), has held strategic talks with Richard Forson, president and CEO of partner airline Cargolux, in which both sides expressed their satisfaction with the 17-year cooperation between the two carriers.

Their discussion also placed the spotlight on the need for the continuation of production of the iconic Boeing 747 widebody freighter, amid speculation that its manufacturing line may be scrapped by the US planemaker.

The AZAL/Cargolux partnership, established in 2001 with the initial operation of regular Cargolux flights to and from Azerbaijan’s Heydar Aliyev international airport outside Baku, was further strengthened when both sides agreed a contract for Cargolux to deliver three Boeing 747-400 freighters to Azeri carrier Silk Way Airlines between 2010 and 2014. This arrangement currently also includes maintenance of Boeing 747 airliners, plus crew training on simulators for the type.

According to AZAL’s Askerov, Azerbaijan’s civil aviation has emerged as the foremost air carrier along the Great Silk Road connecting east and west, and the use of long-range Boeing 747-8F aircraft, now well established on the global cargo transportation market, is an important part of further implementation of this strategy.

Askerov voiced his concerns about Boeing’s potential decision to shut down the 747-8F production line, especially because it is predicted that there could be a need to purchase some 20 such aircraft for Azerbaijan’s civil aviation within the next 10 years. This is why he intends to make a request to Boeing Corporation to continue production of the type.

Richard Forson expressed Cargolux’s satisfaction with the high quality of services provided at Heydar Aliyev International Airport. He agreed that the 747-8F has more than proved itself in the world of air cargo transportation, and that there will be a continuing need for such aircraft on the market.

Askerov informed his Cargolux counterpart that, at his invitation, Boeing Commercial Airplanes President and CEO Kevin McAllister will pay a working visit to Baku in the coming weeks. The invitation was extended to include Forson to participate in discussions regarding the future of the freighter widebody.

Silk Way Airlines now operates regular flights to more than 20 destinations in Europe, Asia, the Middle East, and North America. The airline’s fleet consists of a mix of the modern and capacious Boeing 747-8F and -400F variants.

Silk Way’s success over the past 10 years has helped Heydar Aliyev evolve into a major east-west logistics hub for air cargo transportation. 

by Russian Aviation Insider

UPS confirms all 747-8F deliveries scheduled by 2022

UPS confirms that its newly-ordered Boeing 747-8 Freighters will be delivered by the end of 2022, at which time the company will have 28 of the aircraft in its fleet under its current fleet plan.

The express package delivery provider announced on 1 February, 30 years to the day of the founding of the company's air arm UPS Airlines, that it converted 14 options for 747-8Fs into firm orders.

UPS also announced an order for four new 767 freighters, with three of those aircraft to be delivered in 2019 and one in 2020, says UPS.

"The aircraft will be delivered on an expedited schedule, building on the company’s 2016 order of 14 Boeing 747-8 freighters. All 32 of the jets will be delivered by the end of 2022, adding more than 9 million pounds of cargo capacity," says UPS.

The 14 newly-ordered 747-8Fs are in addition to four 747-8Fs that UPS already has received from Boeing and an additional 10 still-undelivered aircraft from its earlier order with Boeing. That includes one 747-8F that Boeing delivered to UPS in January.

UPS attributes its additional fleet growth to strong domestic and international demand for air shipments and to the recent overhaul of US tax law, which reduced the corporate income tax to 21% from 35% for profits in excess of $10 million.

"Our intra-US next-day and deferred air shipments are expanding to record levels, and UPS’s international segment has produced four consecutive quarters of double-digit export shipment growth,” says UPS chief executive David Abney. “To support this strong customer demand, we continue to invest in additional air capacity, providing the critical link our customers need to markets around the world.”

UPS has no plans to retire any aircraft. Instead, the 747-8Fs will add to a fleet that includes 75 757-200Fs, 59 767-300ERFs, 52 A300-600RFs, 13 747-400Fs and 37 MD-11Fs, according to Flight Fleets Analyzer.

The incoming 747-8Fs will create a "cascade" effect within the fleet, enabling UPS to shift larger aircraft like A300s and MD-11s to routes currently served by 757s and 767s, it tells FlightGlobal.

Some 125 of those aircraft arrive in Louisville daily, landing in the early morning hours and typically carrying more than a million packages. UPS unloads and sorts those packages at its 483,100m2 site, then sends the aircraft back out in a highly-automated and choreographed process that is completed in several hours.
Workers unload a UPS 747-8F (N607UP) at Louisville early on 1 February, following a flight from Anchorage

FlightGlobal

The 747-8s cargo handling system moves containers toward the aft door during unloading at Louisville on 1 February

FlightGlobal

The company typically deploys 747-8Fs on high-traffic trunk routes to Asian cities, connecting in Anchorage to UPS' primary hub in Louisville and to other hubs in Philadelphia; Rockford, Illinois; and Ontario, California.



Meanwhile, UPS has embarked on a plan to upgrade cockpits of its A300s, 757s and 767s to enable those aircraft to operate for decades and to comply with US air traffic control modernisation.

ATLAS AIR - B747-8F - N856GT

Duncan Stewart - LAX

ATLAS AIR - B747-8F - N854GT

Ton Jochems - AMS

CargoLogicAir received its third Boeing 747F freighter

The new addition brings the operator's fleet up to three 747 freighters (Kambui / Wikimedia)

UK-based cargo airline CargoLogicAir, established by Russia’s Volga-Dnepr Group to operate in partnership with the latter’s subsidiary freight carrier AirBridgeCargo (ABC), has taken delivery of its third Boeing 747F.

The company’s press release by British news portal The Loadstar says that the airliner, a Boeing 747-400ERF, has an increased maximum takeoff weight. Volga-Dnepr first announced plans to lease three more airframes for CargoLogicAir at Farnborough Air Show in July 2016. The other two aircraft are now expected to be received by 2019 (the original delivery deadline is understood to have been at some point in 2018).

The release says the aircraft was delivered by Irish lessor AerCap. According to open source data, it was manufactured in 2004 and is currently registered as G-CLBA. The 747F was previously operated by Air France and US freight specialist Centurion Air Cargo.

Commenting on the latest addition to the fleet, CargoLogicAir CEO Dmitry Grishin said it opens up several possibilities.

First, the airline can now launch flights to new destinations from the UK.

Second, it will also be able to increase the frequency of flights operated on ACMI lease terms (aircraft, crew, maintenance, and insurance). The Loadstar reports that the UK carrier’s primary client is ABC, which also operates Boeing 747Fs. The Russian operator has previously used the British partner’s two 747s for cargo flights to Africa.

Third, CargoLogicAir is planning to become more active on the charter cargo market.

Grishin said the airline had managed to close 2016 in the black, and that the Q1 2017 results were also satisfactory.



CargoLogicAir obtained its air operator’s certificate in January 2016. Apart from the newly received Boeing 747-400ERF, its fleet comprises one each of the Boeing 747-400F and the Boeing 747-8F versions.

AIR BRIDGE CARGO - B747-400F - VQ-

Duncan Stewart - LAX

Cargolux Adds Rio de Janeiro Service from March 2016

Cargolux earlier this month has launched new service to Rio de Janeiro, where the airline operates Luxembourg – Rio de Janeiro – Sao Paulo Viracopos/Campinas – Luxembourg routing, once a week. Boeing 747-400 Freighter operated the first flight on 04MAR16.

CV7645 LUX1300 – 2030GIG2154 – 2310VCP0010+1 – 1630+1LUX 74Y 5

Routes Online

Photo:Ton jochems-AMS