Wirraway
18th Nov 2004, 13:54
Fri "The Australian"
Better freight than ever Boeing's 777 promise
Steve Creedy
November 19, 2004
BOEING says it is talking to several potential customers about buying its newly announced 777 freighter and appears confident it will be able to officially launch the program.
The aircraft manufacturer would not name names and said it was not targeting any particular region.
"The cargo industry has been enjoying some great growth around the world and so this airplane is being looked at by operators all around the world," Boeing 777 derivatives program manager Lars Andersen said during a conference call this week.
"So we're optimistic this is going to be a great possible addition to anyone's fleet of freighters."
The world's No2 aircraft manufacturer announced on Wednesday it was expanding its popular 777 range to offer a cargo model based on the long-range Boeing-200LR, the first of which is being built at its US facilities and is due to be unveiled in February.
With a range of 5200 nautical miles (9630km) and payload of 220,000 pounds (101 tonnes), the proposed 777 derivative will fly further than any other freighter and provide more capacity than other twin-engine cargo planes. The first delivery is scheduled for the fourth quarter of 2008.
Mr Andersen said the manufacturer was offering the aircraft, the sixth 777 model, in response to demand from the world's cargo operators for an efficient long-range and high-capacity freighter.
The 777 has proved a popular aircraft since its launch 15 years ago, with 642 orders booked by 37 customers worldwide.
Air cargo experts agree Boeing should have no trouble getting orders for the plane because of an existing strong interest in 100-tonne, twin-engine freighters.
Mr Andersen said the 777-200LR was the ideal platform for a freighter because it delivered the range and payload capability preferred by payload operators.
"It will deliver the lowest trip cost of any large freighter," he said.
The new freighter will be designed so operators can easily transfer pallets between it and the 747. It will be able to accommodate 27 standard pallets on its main deck and 10 in its lower cargo hold.
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Better freight than ever Boeing's 777 promise
Steve Creedy
November 19, 2004
BOEING says it is talking to several potential customers about buying its newly announced 777 freighter and appears confident it will be able to officially launch the program.
The aircraft manufacturer would not name names and said it was not targeting any particular region.
"The cargo industry has been enjoying some great growth around the world and so this airplane is being looked at by operators all around the world," Boeing 777 derivatives program manager Lars Andersen said during a conference call this week.
"So we're optimistic this is going to be a great possible addition to anyone's fleet of freighters."
The world's No2 aircraft manufacturer announced on Wednesday it was expanding its popular 777 range to offer a cargo model based on the long-range Boeing-200LR, the first of which is being built at its US facilities and is due to be unveiled in February.
With a range of 5200 nautical miles (9630km) and payload of 220,000 pounds (101 tonnes), the proposed 777 derivative will fly further than any other freighter and provide more capacity than other twin-engine cargo planes. The first delivery is scheduled for the fourth quarter of 2008.
Mr Andersen said the manufacturer was offering the aircraft, the sixth 777 model, in response to demand from the world's cargo operators for an efficient long-range and high-capacity freighter.
The 777 has proved a popular aircraft since its launch 15 years ago, with 642 orders booked by 37 customers worldwide.
Air cargo experts agree Boeing should have no trouble getting orders for the plane because of an existing strong interest in 100-tonne, twin-engine freighters.
Mr Andersen said the 777-200LR was the ideal platform for a freighter because it delivered the range and payload capability preferred by payload operators.
"It will deliver the lowest trip cost of any large freighter," he said.
The new freighter will be designed so operators can easily transfer pallets between it and the 747. It will be able to accommodate 27 standard pallets on its main deck and 10 in its lower cargo hold.
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