Qatar Cargo waves goodbye to its last Boeing 747 freighter
06 / 03 / 2024
Source: Qatar Airways Cargo
Qatar Airways Cargo has exited Boeing 747 freighter operations after the model conducted its final flight for the Doha-headquartered airline last week.
The aircraft (A7-BGB) completed its final flight from Barcelona to Doha on March 1.
The carrier said that it had decided to exit the operation of the four-engined aircraft for environmental reasons.
Qatar Cargo offloaded its other B747-8F in February. Both aircraft are being taken up by UPS.
The two 747Fs joined the Qatar Airways fleet in 2017 and have conducted more than 9,000 flights totalling over 66,000 block hours and together transporting almost 800,000 tonnes.
“Throughout its service, the number one destination where the 747 aircraft served was Incheon at 1,165 flights. Frankfurt, Amsterdam and Guangzhou were also among the top 10 destinations the cargo aircraft served,” the carrier said.
Since the two 747s were delivered, the airline has rapidly expanded its Boeing 777 freighter fleet and today operates 27 of the model, up from 13 in 2017.
The carrier has also placed an order for 34 of Boeing’s new 777-8F, with options on 16 more.
The latest 777F was delivered to Qatar in December last year and one more is due to be delivered in mid-March.
Mark Drusch, chief officer cargo at Qatar Airways Cargo, said: “When we welcomed our Boeing 747 freighters to the Qatar Airways Cargo fleet seven years ago, we were responding to a sharp rise in customer demand for capacity, which we were quickly able to fulfil.
“Efficiency is achieved through fleet harmonisation and simplification, and sustainability is improved by the latest in-flight and fuel technology.
“For these important factors, Qatar Airways Cargo is the launch customer for Boeing’s next generation 777-8F freighter, the most fuel efficient, lowest carbon footprint freighter in the cargo industry.”
UPS will use the two 747Fs to replace some of its older and less efficient MD-11Fs.
UPS had, by the end of last year, reduced its MD-11F fleet to 36 operational aircraft. At its height, the express firm operated 43 of the aircraft.
The company plans to retire a further nine of the aircraft during 2024.
Qatar Cargo set to exit 747-8F operations as UPS takes aircraft
