Boeing and Azerbaijan-based Silk Way West announced an order for
three 747-8 Freighter airplanes Tuesday valued at more than $1.1
billion at current list prices.
Silk Way West is an enterprise of the Silk Way Group, which
includes 23 companies working in the aviation industry and related
services. The airline currently operates seven Boeing airplanes,
including two 767-300 Freighters, three 747-400 Freighters and two
747-8 Freighters.
“Compared one on one, the 747-8 Freighter has no competitors,”
Boeing said in a company press release. “The 747-8 Freighter
provides cargo operators the lowest operating costs and best
economics of any large freighter airplane while providing enhanced
environmental performance.” The 747-8 Freighter offers 16 percent
more revenue cargo volume than the 747-400, while keeping its iconic
nose door.
With 56 747-8 Freighters in service with eight customers, the
747-8 Freighters have logged more than 500,000 flight hours and more
than 88,000 flight cycles.
Boeing has delivered the 1,500th 747 to come off the production line to Frankfurt, Germany-based Lufthansa. The milestone airplane is a 747-8 Intercontinental, the 14th one that Lufthansa will incorporate into its long-haul fleet.
"The new 747-8 is delivering on its promise to our customers, and we continue to look at ways to make it even more efficient in the future," said Eric Lindblad, 747 vice president and general manager, Boeing Commercial Airplanes.
The 747 is the first widebody airplane in history to reach the 1,500 milestone. Its iconic shape makes it instantly recognizable, and passengers have consistently voted it their favorite airplane to fly.
At a delivery ceremony Saturday, a special logo commemorating the 1,500th airplane was revealed for the first time.
Lufthansa is the launch customer of the 747-8 Intercontinental and took delivery of its first airplane in April 2012. The airline has 19 747-8 Intercontinentals on order.
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