The Boeing 777 is one of the most ired planes in the world, by enthusiasts and airlines alike. The plane has become a fundamental part of long trips between countries, as its autonomy combined with its good performance draws the attention of airlines.
The freighter version of the 777 is based on the 777-200LR, a smaller version but with greater range. With new engines and ample cargo capacity, it became a favorite to replace older aircraft such as the McDonnell Douglas MD-11F, Boeing 747F.
The conversion of the largest version of the 777 is currently in progress, the -300ER version, one of the largest twin-engine aircraft in the world. And in the process Cargolux, one of the largest cargo companies in the world is looking to make a future deal for its fleet.
Cargolux has 30 Boeing 747 freighters and flies all over the world. The company's chief executive Richard Forson said at an event that the company is closely following the 777-300ER conversion process.
“Look at the big manufacturers, sales of high-end freighter versions of aircraft or look at converting older generation enger aircraft. The specific one that we are closely watching is the conversion of the 777-300ER into a freighter, which GECAS, together with the IAI, is working on a program”said the president.
IAI's conversion program started in October 2019 with an order for 15 converted Boeing 777-300ER aircraft. The order came directly from the aircraft leasing company, GECAS. The 777-300ER conversion will be named Special Freighter(SF) and will become the first conversion launched for the 777 family.
It will be the first conversion version as Boeing already has a design for a purely freighter Boeing 777 based on the 777-200LR.
“I'm keeping an eye on this and wondering if the whole freighter concept is coming full circle where it initially started with enger aircraft conversions and then went to production freighters, and maybe we're getting back to a situation now where manufacturers will say that the risk is too high”, reinforces Forson.
The chief executive was doubtful about orders for the 777X for engers, Forson said he wonders if the number of orders will be enough to get Boeing to launch a version of the new 777X family for cargo.
Forson also said that the hundreds of deliveries planned for the A350 could make Airbus think about a freighter version. Forson reinforced that he would still assess whether the possible new state-of-the-art aircraft would meet the operating requirements of the cargo company.
“There are a lot of raw material 777-300ERs on the market that will also be looking for a home one day,” Forson said.
“What we have been doing as an airline is taking the necessary steps to ensure the longevity of our 747 fleet for as long as possible. Apart from the Antonov (AN-124), which is a niche aircraft, there is no aircraft comparable to the capabilities of the 747, especially when it comes to handling large shipments.” Reinforced the president.
Forson also said that with the introduction of a twin-engine aircraft, it would add complexity to operations that currently do not exist. That's because Cargolux's fleet is made up exclusively of Boeing 747s.
