Cargolux and Boeing have finalized a 10-aircraft 777-8 freighter order, putting the finishing touches on a deal announced at this year’s Farnborough Airshow and setting the carrier up with a successor to its 747-400 freighter fleet.
Boeing included the deal in its September orders and deliveries activity as an order from an unidentified customer.
The deal, which includes six options, gives Cargolux direct replacements for all 15 747-400Fs in its fleet. Those aircraft range in age from 14-24 years old, with an average age of about 18, Aviation Week Network’s Fleet Discovery data show.
“Replacing our aging fleet of 747-400 Freighters with the latest technology and fuel-efficient 777-8 Freighter model will contribute to our long-term sustainability program while continuing to offer our customers the tailored service they expect,” Cargolux President and CEO Richard Forson said. The Luxembourg-based carrier—Europe’s largest all-cargo operator—also has 14 747-8Fs.
The 777-8F offers a cargo capacity close to that of the 747-400F but is projected to burn 25% less fuel. It will share the same 235-ft., 5-in. wingspan as the passenger models. But the key differentiator is the 232-ft., 6-in.-long fuselage—a 3-ft. 6-in. extension over the previously defined 777-8. The extra fuselage length will provide space for up to 31 freight pallets on the main deck, plus existing space for 13 pallets and additional bulk cargo, or 5,995 ft.³, in the lower holds.
Boeing’s newest freighter will boast a maximum takeoff weight of 805,000 lb., compared to 775,000 lb. for both 777X passenger versions, providing a range of more than 4,400 nm and a maximum revenue payload of 247,500 lb. The aircraft will be configured for a maximum structural payload of 260,000 lb., permitting longer nonstop operations.
Boeing unveiled the new freighter in January and has booked more than 50 orders, accounting for about 15% of the 777X’s official total of 322 firm orders. Interest in the variant has prompted Boeing to accelerate its development, putting it next in line behind the 777-9 passenger variant undergoing certification. Deliveries of the first passenger variant are not expected to start until at least 2025, with the 777-8 following in 2027.
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