A Second Is On The Way
Aero-News learned Wednesday that Boeing celebrated the delivery
of the first 747-400ER Freighter for two customers. The airplane
was delivered to Guggenheim Aviation Partners (GAP), and will be
put into service by Netherlands-based express delivery company
TNT.
"The arrival of the first TNT-owned Boeing 747 is a major step
towards achieving our strategic objective of being the number one
carrier between Asia and Europe," said Peter Bakker, TNT Chief
Executive Officer. "The aircraft will seamlessly link into TNT's
air and road networks in Europe. This will provide TNT's customers
with the fastest guaranteed transit times to Europe, while having
full visibility and control through TNT's integrated IT-services,
resulting in lower inventory costs, overall supply chain costs and
increase of customer satisfaction."
TNT currently operates a fleet of 46 aircraft that includes six
Boeing 737 Freighters, and one Boeing 757 Freighter. The company
will add a second 747-400ER Freighter to its fleet in spring 2007,
in cooperation with GAP.
"We congratulate TNT as it adds the Boeing 747 Freighter -- the
standard of the air cargo industry -- to its global fleet," said
Marlin Dailey, vice president of Europe, Russia and Central Asia
Sales, Boeing Commercial Airplanes. "The excellent economics and
environmental performance of the Boeing 747-400ER Freighter have
contributed to the continued success and market leadership of the
747 Freighter family."
Investment funds managed by GAP currently own a fleet of 31
Boeing aircraft. Today's delivery is the first from an order for
six 747-400ER Freighters placed in June 2005. As Aero-News reported, the
US-based aviation investment firm placed additional orders earlier
this year for four 747-8 Freighters, and three 777 Freighters.
Boeing says its planes provide over 90 percent of the total
worldwide dedicated freighter capacity. The Boeing 747 Freighter
family alone carries half of the world's freighter cargo. The 747
Freighter features a distinctive nose door to handle outsized
shipments, and a side door, which provides superior efficiency and
flexibility in ground operations.
In Boeing's World Air Cargo Forecast 2006/2007, Boeing forecasts
that world air cargo growth is expected to expand at an average
annual rate of 6.1 percent over the next 20 years. European air
cargo markets comprise approximately one-third of the world's air
cargo traffic.