Boeing delivers Nippon Cargo’s first 747-8 freighter

Published 1:54 pm Wednesday, July 25, 2012

Boeing delivered Nippon Cargo Airlines first 747-8 freighter on Wednesday.

Narita-based Nippon Cargo is the first Japanese carrier to receive one of Boeing’s revamped 747-8s. The carrier was one of the original launch customers in 2005 for the 747-8.

“We are excited to take delivery of this new fuel-efficient freighter, which will be a perfect addition to NCA’s cargo fleet,” Takuzo Nomura, Nippon Cargo’s senior executive managing director, said in a statement.

Nippon Cargo has another 13 747-8 freighters on order with Boeing.

During a conference call Wednesday, Boeing CEO Jim McNerney said that the jet maker still hopes to land a few more orders for the updated 747. The company had 84 unfilled requests at the end of June. Boeing had delivered 13 747s through June 30, with a plan of delivering between 35 and 42 for the year.

“I am not worried strategically at all,” McNerney said. “There are a couple (order) campaigns that we need to convert over the next six months.”

Nippon Cargo currently operates eight 747-400 Freighters with two 747-400 Freighters on lease with other airlines. The carrier will also undertake its first biofuel flight with this 747-8 freighter delivery. The new airplane will become the first 747-8 to use a blend of environmentally progressive biofuels (jet kerosene and used cooking oil) to fly across the Pacific Ocean.