The flagship jet, which is the first to feature folding wingtips, is an upgraded version of the original 777 that took its maiden flight in 1994.Boeing's new 777-8 freighter.
The freighter will replace the industry's aging Boeing 747-400 aircraft as cargo demand continues to rise during the pandemic and operators seek a smaller, more efficient plane.Atlas Air 747-400F.
Boeing's 777-8F is also an environmentally friendly alternative to the planemaker's original 777 freighter, boasting a 25% improvement in fuel efficiency, emissions, and operating costs.Boeing's new 777-8 freighter.
Once finished, the freighter will be the largest and longest-range twin-engine cargo plane on the market. It is expected to enter service in 2027 with Doha-based Qatar Airways as its launch customer.Qatar Airways 777-8F rendering.
The airline has ordered 34 of the cargo jets, with the option to add an additional 16. The purchase is worth over $20 billion.Qatar Airways 777-8F rendering.
"Boeing has a long history of building market-leading freighter aircraft and Qatar Airways is honored to have the opportunity to be the launch customer for the 777-8 Freighter," Qatar CEO Akbar Al Baker said.Qatar Airways 777-8F rendering.
The 777-8F will directly compete with Airbus' A350F, which was announced in November at the Dubai Air Show. The plane, which is derived from the A350-1000 passenger jet, is expected to enter service in 2025, two years before Boeing's new freighter.Airbus A350F computer rendering.
Currently, four airlines have ordered Airbus' A350F, including seven from US aircraft leasing company Air Lease Corporation…A rendering of an ALC Airbus A350 Freighter aircraft.
According to Airbus, the cargo plane has a payload capacity of 109 tonnes, compared to the 777-8F's expected capacity of 118 tonnes.Boeing's new 777-8 freighter.
Meanwhile, like the 777-8F, Airbus' freighter will be more fuel-efficient than the 777F or 747F, boasting a 20% decrease in fuel burn and emissions.Airbus A350F specs.
According to Frederic Horst, managing director consulting at airfreight analysis firm Cargo Facts, the comparison in fuel efficiency between the two jets is complex.Boing 777-8F and Airbus A350F.
Horst told the Seattle Times that efficiency "will depend how that [weight, engine performance, and aerodynamic engineering] translates into fuel burn differences between the two."Airbus A350F computer rendering.
According to Airbus, the A350F can travel approximately 5,400 miles at maximum capacity, while the 777-8F can only fly about 5,075 miles.Boeing's new 777-8 freighter.
However, according to Boeing, its freighter can fly further than the A350F if it carries the maximum amount of cargo that can be loaded onto the Airbus jet, which is 10 tonnes less than the 777-8F.Boeing's new 777-8 freighter.
In addition to varied performance, the two planes will use different engines. Boeing's 777-8F will use the specially engineered General Electric GE9X engines, which are the largest aircraft engines in the world.The GE Aviation GE9X engine that powers the Boeing 777X.
One of the most significant differences between the two freighter planes is the A350F's potential for single-pilot operations, meaning only one pilot would be in the cockpit at a time.The cockpit of an Airbus A350 XWB aircraft.
According to Airbus CEO Guillaume Faury, the plane's advanced automation, including the ability to auto-descend without pilot input, makes it a good "candidate" for single-pilot operations.Airbus A350F computer rendering.
It is likely that both pilots would be in the cockpit for takeoff and landing, though only one would man the controls during cruise while the other would rest.Touring SAS Scandinavian Airlines' Airbus A350-900 XWB.
Despite the differences, both freighters will be essential in meeting the industry's growing cargo demand that has been exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic and ocean shipping delays.Workers load cargo onto a Boeing 777F.
