Shanghai-based China Cargo Airlines has expanded its fleet of Boeing 777 freighters to 20 aircraft, reinforcing its long-term investment in widebody cargo operations as demand for dedicated freighter capacity remains strong.
According to fleet tracking website Planespotters, the airline took delivery of its 20th Boeing 777F earlier this month, with the aircraft’s arrival first reported by industry publication Cargo Facts.
The newly delivered aircraft, registered B-228S, was completed at Boeing’s Everett production facility in Washington state before being flown from Seattle Paine Field International Airport to its new home at Shanghai Pudong International Airport.
The latest addition follows the delivery of the carrier’s 19th Boeing 777F in February. The airline also has a further three aircraft of the same type on order.
Sixteen years of investment in the Boeing 777F
China Cargo Airlines, a subsidiary of China Eastern Airlines, has steadily expanded its Boeing 777 freighter fleet over the past 16 years.
The airline received its first 777F in 2010, with that aircraft now 16 years old, underlining the carrier’s long-term commitment to the aircraft type.
The Boeing 777F has become one of the world’s most widely used long-haul freighters, offering airlines a maximum revenue payload of 102 tonnes and a range of approximately 4,970 nautical miles.
The aircraft is widely used on intercontinental routes because of its combination of payload capacity, fuel efficiency and operational flexibility.
Boeing seeks approval to extend 777F sales
Demand for the Boeing 777F remains strong despite the manufacturer preparing to introduce its next-generation replacement, the Boeing 777-8 Freighter.
In December, Boeing submitted an emissions exemption petition to the US Department of Transportation to allow continued sales of the 777F beyond the end of 2027.
The request is intended to bridge the production gap before the Boeing 777-8 Freighter enters commercial service.
Boeing said it plans to sell a further 35 Boeing 777Fs, although the exemption request is still under review by the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).