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.

FMI: http://group.tnt.com, www.boeing.com