Intrepid orders B747-8Fs for long-term lease

Intrepid Aviation has switched an order for Boeing 777-300 aircraft to B747-800 freighters for lease on a long-term basis.
The aircraft lessor said that it would switch two of six B777-300ER aircraft it has on order to two B747-8F aircraft to be delivered in 2017 and subject to long-term lease with a current Boeing customer of the type.
Intrepid president and chief commercial officer Doug Winter said: “While we are confident in the long-term value proposition of the B777-300ER, we saw value for our business in converting a portion of our investment commitment with Boeing into earlier and uniquely capable B747-8F freighters on very long lease to one of the industry’s premier cargo operators.”
Airlines and lessors that have currently ordered B747-800F from Boeing include AirBridgeCargo, Atlas Air, Cargolux, Cathay Pacific, Korean Air, Nippon Cargo, Silk Way, Volga-Dnepr and an unidentified customer.
The big outstanding order of the aircraft type is the Volga-Dnepr group, which earlier this year firmed up an order for 20 of the aircraft at the UK’s Farnborough Air Show, including five that have already been delivered.
Volga-Dnepr was the first Russian carrier to order the Boeing 747-8 Freighter and took delivery of its first aircraft in 2012. The newly-ordered aircraft will replace 747-400s and will be acquired through a mix of direct purchases and leasing over the next six years.