Boeing today celebrated the delivery of the company¡¯s first 777 Freighter to launch customer Air France in a ceremony at the Future of Flight Aviation Center and Boeing Tour near Paine Field.
"Our new Boeing 777 Freighter will operate very well with our 747-400ER Freighters," said Pierre Vellay, Air France executive vice-president for new aircraft and corporate fleet planning.
¡°Also, we will benefit from the airplane¡¯s commonality with our proven 777 passenger fleet and improve our cargo efficiency to help us through the current economic difficulties."
Providing cargo capacity normally associated with larger airplanes, the 777 Freighter can fly 4,880 nautical miles (9,038 kilometers) with a full payload of 103 metric tonnes.
The new airplane is expected to progressively replace the 747-400 Boeing Converted Freighter (BCF) in the Air France Cargo fleet. Air France currently operates five 747-400ER Freighters and four 747-400BCFs.
¡°The 777 Freighter uses less fuel per cargo tonne than any freighter operating,¡± said Aldo Basile, Boeing vice-president, sales, for Europe, Russia and Central Asia.
¡°With the 777F, Air France also will experience the lowest maintenance costs and the lowest trip costs of any large freighter, as well as outstanding environmental performance.¡±
The 777 Freighter is the world¡¯s longest-range freighter and features the lowest trip cost of any large freighter, with high cargo density and 3.1-metre interior height capability that complement the popular 747 Freighter family.
"The 777 Freighter provides a new level of cargo economics, with low tonne-kilometer costs to help cargo airlines in the current environment," said Larry Loftis, vice-president and general manager of the Boeing 777 Program.
Twelve customers have ordered 73 of the 777F aircraft.
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