Boeing delivers 777 freighter as Qatar Cargo welcomes latest aircraft

Qatar Cargo has put into operation another Boeing 777-200 freighter – one of Boeing’s first 777 cargo aircraft deliveries of the year.

The latest freighter (A7-BTB) travelled from Boeing’s production site in Everett on April 14 and began commercial operations on April 16.

So far, the aircraft has been utilised on services to India and Europe, with flights to Mumbai, Delhi and Amsterdam under its belt.

The airline has been expanding its 777-200F fleet over recent years and now operates 28 of the model, with the latest 777-200F understood to be the last the carrier had on order from Boeing.

However, the carrier has also placed an order for 34 of Boeing’s new 777-8F, with options on 16 more.

The delivery comes after Boeing was unable to deliver any 777 freighters in the first quarter of the year, although 11 of the aircraft were reported to have been built and awaiting engines.

The airframer also failed to deliver any passenger 777s during the first three months of 2024.

Reports suggest the first 777 freighter delivery of the year took place on April 1 when an aircraft left Everett on its way to Taiwan. 

Boeing has declined to comment on the reasons for the slowdown in production of the model but reports have surfaced about possible shortages of the twinjet’s GE Aerospace GE90 turbofans.

An April 5 report from financial firm Jefferies noted that Boeing has been moving 777s, without engines installed, out of its factory before fitting the powerplants later, according to FlightGlobal.

Asked to comment about its supply of GE90s, Boeing told FG: “As the aviation industry continues to manage through supply chain constraints, we are working closely with our suppliers and customers on the timing of their deliveries.”

GE Aerospace added: “We are coordinating with Boeing and our airline customers on GE90 engine delivery timing and production schedules.”

The US manufacturer’s first-quarter deliveries came to 83 aircraft, down from 130 in the same period of last year after a production slowdown was initiated due to the loss of a panel in the fuselage of an Alaska Airlines Boeing 737 Max 9 in January.

In total, there are a further 54 777-200Fs still awaiting delivery. Airlines waiting on the freighter are: Maersk Aviation (2), Air China Cargo (4), Atlas Air (2), China Airlines (3), DHL Aviation Americas (6), Emirates (5), Ethiopian Airlines (2), Eva Air (1), FedEx Express (2), Lufthansa (1), Silk Way West (3), unidentified (15), Volga-Denpr UK (6) and Western Global (2).

The latter two appear unlikely given the grounding of the Volga-Dnepr Group’s Western fleet as a result of sanctions related to the Ukraine war and Western Global’s financial difficulties last year.

Beoing did deliver a single 767-300F to FedEx during the first quarter.

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