Boeing 747-8F

Qatar Airways says goodbye to Boeing 747 freighter

The 747 jumbo jet era is over at Qatar Airways. The company’s cargo subsidiary announced that its lone remaining Boeing 747-8 freighter finished its last flight on Friday, arriving at its base in Doha from Barcelona, Spain.

Qatar Airways Cargo acquired two 747-8s in 2017 and recently agreed to sell them to UPS. The airline will now operate an all-Boeing 777 fleet as it seeks better efficiency and emissions reductions.

The two cargo jets, which are young by freighter standards at 10 and seven...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/qatar-airways-says-goodbye-to-boeing-747-freighter

End of production era, but 747 freighters will fly for decades

Boeing will hand over the last 747 ever made to Atlas Air on Tuesday, marking the end of an era for an iconic aircraft that transformed air travel and made it accessible to the average person. From the 747-100 to the 747-400, and then the modern 747-8, Boeing built both passenger and freighter versions. And many used 747 passenger jets were eventually converted to freighters by third-party engineering firms.

A live webcast of the delivery ceremony will take place at 4 p.m. EST and can be watched...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/end-of-production-era-but-747-freighters-will-fly-for-decades

Atlas Air adds freighter for Cainiao as Boeing winds down 747-8 production

View from below of Atlas Air cargo jet with blue and gold accents.

The last four 747-8 freighters to roll off Boeing’s production line this year are going to all-cargo operator Atlas Air, which announced Thursday the first one recently received will be assigned to support Cainiao, the logistics arm of Chinese e-commerce giant Alibaba Group.

The cargo jet will increase capacity on routes between China and the Americas that Atlas operates as part of Cainiao’s virtual private airline. Cainiao has expanded service with Atlas (NASDAQ: AAWW) since their initial deal...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/atlas-air-gets-last-747s-made-by-boeing

FedEx, UPS operate large Boeing freighters FAA says vulnerable to 5G

A UPS jumbo jet takes off with mountains in the background.

A new Federal Aviation Administration regulation prohibiting Boeing 747-8 freighters and all 777 widebody aircraft from landing at airports where 5G towers might interfere with onboard safety equipment could have a disproportionate impact on major cargo airlines like UPS, FedEx and Atlas Air.

The airworthiness directive issued Tuesday said the FAA has identified an additional hazard from interference with radio altimeters beyond creating a landing danger in low-visibility conditions....

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/fedex-ups-operate-large-boeing-freighters-faa-says-vulnerable-to-5g

E-commerce drives multi-pronged expansion at UPS Airlines

UJPS brown and white jumbo jet flies over mountains.

UPS Airlines is expanding in the midst of a coronavirus pandemic that is forcing passenger airlines to shrink fleets and permanently downsize in line with expectations for weak travel demand in the coming years.

The UPS (NYSE: UPS) fleet has been busy flying charter flights for the Federal Emergency Management Agency and other customers ordering desperately needed medical supplies for the COVID-19 response in the U.S. and other countries. But the real driver of extra business and aircraft...

https://s29755.pcdn.co/news/e-commerce-drives-multi-pronged-expansion-at-ups-airlines