Cargolux Takes Delivery of First Boeing 747-8F

Cargolux Airlines has taken delivery of the first Boeing 747-8 Freighter.

Boeing, Cargolux and Nippon Cargo Airlines announced the initial orders for the 747-8 Freighter in November 2005.

Wednesday's delivery comes nearly 18 years after Cargolux was the recipient of the first Boeing 747-400 Freighter, which went on to become the workhorse and standard of the air cargo industry.

Cargolux has ordered a total of 13 747-8 Freighters - its 10-airplane launch order in 2005 and a follow-on order for three additional airplanes placed in 2007.

"The new 747-8 Freighter stands as a monument to the incredible team that designed and built this airplane," said Elizabeth Lund, vice president and general manager of the 747 program. "And it's a pleasure to deliver this airplane to Cargolux, an airline that has long been dedicated to Boeing and the 747 program."

The 747-8 Freighter offers double-digit improvements in fuel burn, operating cost and lower emissions over the airplane it replaces. It also provides 16% more revenue-generating cargo volume, which allows it to hold seven additional pallets. The new model carries a maximum structural payload capacity of 147.6 tons (133.9 metric tonnes) while providing the same nose-door loading capability, industry-standard 10-foot (3-m) -high pallets and real-world cargo density capability at 9.9 pounds per cubic foot (159 kg/m3) as the industry standard 747-400 Freighter and maintaining interlining capability with the Boeing 777 Freighter.

The new GEnx-2B67 engines incorporate the latest technologies - such as a composite fan case and blades and a revolutionary turbine - to create double-digit efficiency gains over the engines it replaces.

So far, eight customers have ordered a total of 75 747-8 Freighters.

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