Emirates SkyCargo will induct two new Boeing 777Fs into its fleet and convert four of its 777-300ER passenger aircraft into freighters.
At the Dubai Airshow, the airline signed a purchase agreement with the American airframer for two new 777-F aircraft, which will be delivered in April and June 2022 respectively. Emirates SkyCargo was the launch customer for the Boeing 777F and the widebody has been at the heart of the carrier’s operations since 2009.
The Boeing 777 freighter has been a critical pillar of Emirates SkyCargo operations, involved in scheduled and charter flights to destinations across six continents. It also played an important part of the carrier’s pandemic response, helping deliver vital commodities across the globe.
"We are honoured that Emirates has once again placed its confidence in the 777 Freighter as the backbone of its global network," said Ihssane Mounir, Boeing senior vice president of commercial sales and marketing. "As the largest operator of 777 passenger and freighter models worldwide, Emirates’ success is a testament to the 777’s market-leading efficiency, improved sustainability and incredible range."
In addition, Emirates SkyCargo has signed an agreement with Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) for the conversion of four Boeing 777-300ER passenger aircraft into full freighters. The agreement includes an option for further Boeing 777-300ER conversions at a later stage. The conversion programme for the four aircraft will commence in early 2023 and is expected to conclude in 2024 with each aircraft taking up to an estimated five months to convert.
The converted freighters will provide up to ten additional pallet positions over the 777F production freighter, facilitating the transport of more low-density cargo such as e-commerce goods. They will boost the maindeck cargo capacity that Emirates SkyCargo can deploy on its global routes, with a particular focus on trade lanes where volumetric cargo loads tend to be high. The converted aircraft’s payload capabilities are very close to those of the Boeing 777-F production freighters and the twin-engine aircraft will be more efficient per tonne of cargo carried than the industry standard freighters, according to the airline.
