IAG Cargo Takes Delivery of First 747-8 Freighter (04/11/2011)

IAG Cargo, through its brand British Airways World Cargo, has today taken delivery of the first of three Boeing 747-8 Freighters. The freighter landed at London Stansted Airport at 7.30am, following a 4,237 nautical miles flight from the Boeing Everett Delivery Centre in Seattle.

The freighters will be supplied through a five-year wet lease agreement with Global Supply Systems Limited (GSS), a 49% UK affiliate of Atlas Air, owner of the aircraft. The new 747-8 Freighters will replace IAG Cargo's current fleet of 747-400 freighters and will be the first freighter aircraft since 2000 to be branded with British Airways' livery.

The biggest aircraft on the UK registry, the freighters will serve existing schedules to destinations including STN, HKG, FRA, PVG, ORD, DEL, as well as new routes through NBO, MAD and JNB – providing customers with further flexibility on emergent and resilient trade lanes.

Steve Gunning, Managing Director of IAG Cargo says: "As the first 747-8 Freighter is welcomed to Stansted, the investment by IAG Cargo, through British Airways World Cargo, in these three new aircraft clearly signals our intent and commitment to the air cargo industry. In addition to the extended global network offered through IAG Cargo, our freighters will provide customers with increased capacity and, for the first time, freighter routes to Nairobi and Johannesburg. We remain committed to our long-term freighter partnership with GSS and Atlas Air."

Powered by a General Electric GEnx-2B67 engine, the 747-8F has an increased range of 4,390 nautical miles (8,130km) and offers an enhanced environmental performance. In addition, in comparison to the 747-400, the new aircraft will be able to hold a further seven pallets and has a maximum payload capacity of 133.9 metric tonnes (133,900kg).