Freight Fantastic

An air carrier’s choice of aircraft would normally be guided by the utilisation anticipated; the load factors expected, environmental credentials and forward views on fuel costs.  

In terms of freighters, largely due to their low acquisition costs, they are traditionally converted after a long career in the passenger market.

However, the gains derived from new generation freighters, their operating efficiencies and cost reducing technologies, has been enough to sway the major Middle East carriers.

In November 2005 Emirates (airline code EK) announced its order for eight 777Fs. They were part of the largest-ever order for the 777 family that included 24 777-300ERs and 10 777-200LRs with purchase rights for 20 additional 777s.

The first delivery to EK was made in March 2009. A second aircraft soon followed, a third is being delivered in August and the fourth aircraft is expected in February next year.

Since the 777F’s debut into the fleet two years ago, H iran Perera, senior vice president cargo planning & freighters seems content. “ We have been extremely pleased with the performance of the aircraft – its fuel efficiency, payload capabilities, reduced emissions and range. We were the second airline in the world to take delivery of the 777F.” 

Perera’s views are echoed by Emirates’ Ram Menen, divisional senior vice president for cargo, who praised the aircraft for having the longest-range capability of any twin-engine freighter. “It’s also quieter and uses less fuel per tonne than other freighters – that is important. This freighter is part of our long-term investment for Emirates SkyCargo, and we are excited about its performance so far and the possibilities it brings,” added Menen.

The 777F is based on its record-breaking sibling the 777-200LR, sharing common features such as the airframe, power plant and fuel capacity. It is the sixth and youngest member of the 777 family. Its development was in response to market demand for a more efficient, long range, and high capacity freighter.

Boeing launched the 777F programme in May 2005 and the first delivery was made to launch customer Air France in February 2009.

One of the key selling points of the 777F is the 4,900nm (9,070km) range – the longest reach by any twin-engine freighter. From the operators’ perspective this translates into significant savings in terms of fewer stops and associated landing fees, leading to quicker delivery times of shipments.

Earlier this year EK’s freight division operated its longest-ever non-stop flight using one of its 777Fs. Flight EK 4931 was a 17.5-hour flight from Sydney to New York carrying a valuable consignment of horses that were potentially worth more than the aircraft itself, according to the airline.

Showers of praise have also come from the top of the Emirates chain. Airline president Tim Clark said he was particularly impressed with the fact that: “its break-even is as low as it is and that it would bring down the operating cost by as much as 30%”.

The MTOW for the 777F is 347,450kg with a revenue payload capability of 103.9 tonnes. The aircraft accommodates 27 standard pallets (244cm x 318cm) on the main deck, ten pallets in the lower cargo hold and 17m³ (600ft³) of additional bulk cargo.

Qatar Airways has also made a significant commitment to the 777. “We currently have 25 in our fleet,” said CEO Akbar Al Baker speaking at the recent Paris Air Show. “The aircraft’s payload and range capability, reliability and economics have made it the backbone of our long-haul fleet.

“We are expanding our international network rapidly and adding new routes and destinations that will extend Qatar Airways’ reach across the globe, especially as we aim to open up more non-stop routes to popular and under-served cities around the world,” he added.

The airline used the Paris platform to announce an additional order for six more 777-300ERs valued at $1.7 billion at list prices.

The Qatar Airways 777 fleet includes eight 777-200LRs, 15 777-300ERs and two 777F with a third freighter arriving this year. “With a total of three new 777 freighters joining the fleet in a little over 12 months, the airline’s dedicated cargo capacity will effectively quadruple in size,” boasted Al Baker.

Qatar received its first 777F in May 2010 and since the arrival of the second aircraft they have been deployed on several of the company’s dedicated freighter destinations including Amsterdam, Lahore, Dubai, Karachi, Chennai, Sialkot, Frankfurt, Amman and a thrice weekly freighter service to Hong Kong.

According to the airline, the strategy is to allow the 777Fs to be used primarily on long-haul routes connecting East and West transportation lanes, extending from Hong Kong in the Far East to Chicago in the US.

Earlier this year the Qatari airline launched dedicated 777F operations from Doha to Hanoi with the return leg routed via Hong Kong. This followed the launch of passenger flights to the Vietnamese capital in November 2010.

The appeal of the 777F has also attracted Etihad Crystal Cargo. The Abu Dhabi-based carrier took delivery of its first aircraft in June this year. It joined the somewhat competing – but smaller – 70 tonne capacity A330-200F that has been the flagship of the Etihad cargo fleet so far.

Kevin Knight, Etihad chief planning and strategy officer, who also leads the Crystal Cargo division, is excited about the latest addition to the fleet and expectations are high. “We expect the 777F to deliver exceptional value to us and to our customers. With its proven track record, long-range capabilities and excellent operating efficiencies, this aircraft will allow us to economically deliver cargo further than ever before. Our decision to invest in the 777F helps ensure that we are well positioned,” he said.

EK operates five 747-400Fs with orders for 10 747-8Fs. A design feature of the 777F complements the 747 cargo operations with easy direct-transfer shipments. The main cargo door on the 777F is sized to allow easy interlining with the 747 freighter, with the capability to accommodate the transfer of 10ft high (3m) pallets between the two freighters.

In general terms the 777F is showing every sign of being a popular aircraft just like its passenger counterpart. In terms of capacity it fits into the size gap between the larger 747-400F (110 tonne payload) and the MD-11F (90 tonne payload), while beating both types in the range department – 4,400nm for the 747-400 and 4,000nm for the MD-11 .

Boeing has achieved 20-25% improved fuel efficiency over the 747-400F and uses 18% less fuel than the MD-11F. The GE90 engine technology reduces emissions by 18%.

Despite its long-range capabilities the airliner has proved its flexibility on shorter sectors as Emirates’ Perera indicated. “We deploy them mainly on our Dubai-Hong Kong route but we also use them on regional routes such as Erbil and Baghdad in the Middle East and Nairobi, Entebbe and Lilongwe in Africa,” he said.

Boeing has incorporated cutting-edge technologies into the 777Fs design. These include a new handling system with built-in test equipment and a load alleviation system, which helps distribute the load on the aircraft while in-flight.

Perera confirmed that the cargo loading technology on the 777F is effective. “The cargo handling system is lightweight and efficient and has the capacity of handling heavy loads, including heavy 20ft pallets. It also has the unique capability of centre loaded – and locked – 20ft pallet positions. The on-board camera system facilitates easier opening and closing of the main deck cargo door, which increases operational efficiency,” he said.

Boeing claims that the 777F provides the lowest trip cost and tonne-mile economics of any large freighter. There is no doubt that the 777F has already proven itself to be the leader in delivering twin-engine efficiency and lower operating cost but that does not come cheap – with a unit cost of about $269.1 million. It is perhaps no accident that the Gulf airlines and FedEx have dominated sales so far.

Airlines are continually bombarded with possible cheaper alternatives such as a 747-400 conversion that might set you back around $55/60 million. Conversions from older 777 and A330 passenger aircraft are also expected to enter the market.

At EK, however, the 777F seems to be doing the job just nicely. Perera said the aircraft has achieved excellent dispatch reliability of more than 99%.

It looks evident that new generation freighters will continue to shape the future of the airline’s freight operations – 15 new 747-8Fs are expected join the Dubai-based fleet by 2013 or 2014.

For now, however, it seems the 777F is the star attraction. Perera explained the winning formula behind the successful integration into the EK fleet. “Our decision to acquire 777Fs came about because 65% of Emirates’ cargo travels on our passenger aircraft, the majority of which are 777s. The economies of scale that come with operating a fleet of a single aircraft type are simply unbeatable.