China Airlines expands cargo fleet with first of 6 Boeing 777Fs

China Airlines’ first Boeing 777F is about to enter service.

The first 777F has the aircraft number B-18771 from the Boeing 747F the airline retired in 2004.

The freighter will fly freight routes in Asia and North America as soon as it has completed preparation and validation.

Six of the Boeing 777F China Airlines has on order are slated to be delivered between 2020 and 2023. The first 777F arrived in Taiwan on 1 December and a further two will be delivered before the end of January 2021.

China Airlines’ first Boeing 777F is about to enter service. The first 777F has the aircraft number B-18771 from the Boeing 747F the airline retired in 2004. The freighter will soon be assigned to flying freight routes in Asia and North America as soon as it has completed preparation and validation.

The fleet of 21 freighters will pave the way for a new generation of air cargo services by China Airlines in the post-pandemic era.

The 777F features twin engines that translate into 20% lower fuel consumption and a range longer than the 747F. It can therefore be flown on trans-Pacific routes with fewer payload restrictions and better hold utilisation. The aircraft is equipped with fully temperature-controlled cargo holds and the main cargo hold can be fitted with cargo pallet restraint systems used for carrying semiconductor machinery and engines.

China Airlines is the first carrier in Taiwan to be certified by the IATA Centre of Excellence for Independent Validators in Pharmaceutical Logistics (CEIV Pharma) for temperature-controlled cold chain logistics so far.

The airline’s freighter fleet played a crucial role as COVID-19 brought the global airline industry almost to a standstill. The carrier not only put all 18 of its 747-400 freighters into service, but also increased weekly freighter flights by 20%. It also put the belly hold of its passenger aircraft to good use and pioneered the use of passenger cabins for carrying cargo.

Cargo revenues between January and November this year increased by 83% over the same period last year as a result, becoming a lifeline for China Airlines during these trying times.

The airline celebrated its 61st anniversary on 16 December.