Emirates (EK, Dubai International) has placed a firm order with Boeing (BOE, Washington National) for five additional B777-200Fs, with deliveries planned by 2026.
The airline said that the new order and five undelivered B777-200Fs it ordered in 2022 (due in 2024-2025) will allow it to increase its dedicated freighter fleet to 17 aircraft.
The ch-aviation fleets module shows that Emirates currently operates eleven B777-200Fs. It also wet-leases three B747s (one B747-400(BCF), one B747-400(BDSF), and one B747-400FSCD) from Aerotranscargo (F5, Chisinau International) under a long-term partnership. It plans to retain the wet-leased B747s as its cargo fleet grows. It also has an existing conversion order for ten of its own B777-300(ER)s with Israel Aerospace Industries, although so far none of them has entered P2F conversion.
The airline confirmed to ch-aviation that some of the newly delivered B777-200Fs will replace some existing aircraft of the type and they will not all be for growth.
"The next phase of our strategy will include a full assessment for our future freighter fleet reviewing all aircraft options to ensure we are best equipped to respond to the evolving demands of the market and reaffirming our confidence in the role of airfreight and, more specifically, Emirates SkyCargo, in global trade," Chairman and Chief Executive Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum said.
The airline previously said it was considering an order for new-generation widebody freighters - either A350Fs or B777-8Fs - by 2027.
