Cathay orders 747-400F
 

Cathay orders 747-400F
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Cathay Pacific Airways has ordered a Boeing 747-400 freighter for delivery early in 2005.

A spokeswoman for the Oneworld alliance carrier says from Hong Kong that the airline recently ordered a single 747-400F, confirming data on Boeing’s website.

The spokeswoman says she believes the aircraft will be powered by Rolls-Royce RB211 engines - like all other 747-400s in its fleet - but is not able to definitively confirm this.

Cathay already operates five 747-400Fs, in addition to 19 747-400 passenger aircraft, according to Airclaims’ CASE database. Its freighter fleet also includes older 747-200Fs.

The carrier recently said it planned to acquire up to 15 used 747-400 passenger aircraft, some of which would be converted into freighters. It has also said it hopes to convert some of its existing 747-400s into freighters in the years ahead.

Boeing and Israel Aircraft Industries’ Bedek unit both plan to have 747-400 conversion programmes and are aiming for first redeliveries to customers around the end of 2005.

Cathay’s order lifts to four the number of new 747s Boeing has sold this year, all of them freighters. Cargolux Airlines ordered one 747-400F early this year while more recently Korean Air ordered two extended-range -400ERFs.


Source: ATI (Cannot provide link as site is password protected).