Nippon Cargo Airlines Takes Delivery of First Boeing 747-8 Freighter

Boeing has delivered a 747-8 Freighter to Narita-based Nippon Cargo Airlines (NCA), marking the Japanese debut for the 747-8.

The new airplane is NCA's first 747-8 Freighter on order with Boeing.

"We are excited to take delivery of this new fuel-efficient freighter, which will be a perfect addition to NCA's cargo fleet," said Takuzo Nomura, Senior Executive Managing Director, NCA. "The 747-8 Freighter will provide improved economics and efficiency as well as environmental benefits that are all essential in today's market."

The airline currently operates eight 747-400 Freighters with two 747-400 Freighters on lease with other airlines.

The environmentally focused Nippon Cargo Airlines will also undertake its first biofuel flight with this 747-8 Freighter. The new airplane will become the first 747-8 to use a blend of environmentally progressive biofuels (jet kerosene and used cooking oil) to fly across the Pacific Ocean.

Nippon Cargo Airlines, one of the launch customers for the 747-8 Freighter in 2005 and also part of a team that helped develop the aircraft, plans to begin revenue service with its new 747-8 Freighter by mid-August on Asia and North American routes.

Boeing says the 747-8 Freighter will provide double-digit improvements in fuel burn, operating costs and lower emissions over the 747-400 Freighter. The 747-8 Freighter is also expected to provide 16% more revenue-generating cargo volume and boasts a significantly improved environmental performance. Per tonne-kilometer, its carbon dioxide emissions are 16% lower than those of the 747-400 Freighter. It also reduced its noise footprint by more than 30%.

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