São Paulo – Qatar Airways will be the launch customer for the freighter launched this Monday (31) by North American aircraft manufacturer Boeing. The industry announced the new 777-8 Freighter, from the 777X jet family to the global market with an order for up to 50 aircraft from the Qatari company for cargo transport. The first delivery to the Arab company is scheduled for 2027.
Qatar Airways has 34 firm orders and 16 options, totaling USD 20 billion. An option is when a buyer has the right to acquire a particular good, but not the commitment. According to press releases by the two companies, this is the most significant freighter production order in Boeing’s history.
The freighter was designed to be the market leader and the largest twin-engine freighter, with greater range and capacity. According to Boeing, the plane has almost the same payload capacity as the 747-400 Freighter; still, it is 25% better in fuel efficiency, emissions, and operating costs, making it more sustainable and profitable.
“Boeing has a long history of building market-leading freighter aircraft, and Qatar Airways is honored to have the opportunity to be the launch customer for the 777-8 Freighter, an aircraft which will not only allow us to further enhance our product offering for our customers but also help us meet our objectives to deliver a sustainable future for our business,” said Qatar Airways CEO Akbar Al Baker.
The 777-8 Freighter was conceived to maximize environmental performance. It has a range of 4,410 nautical miles (8,167 km) and a maximum payload of 118 tonnes. Boeing announced it would build the 777-8 Freighter at its factory in Everett, Washington, USA. It has invested over USD 1 billion in the unit to support the 777X family of aircraft production and sustain thousands of local jobs for decades to come.
As part of the deal, Qatar Airways will convert 20 of its previous 60 orders of the 777X family to the 777-8 Freighter. The airline also ordered two current 777 Freighters and signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with a firm order for 25 737-10 aircraft and an option to purchase an additional 25.
Translated by Elúsio Brasileiro
