The first Boeing 777-300ER passenger-to-freighter (P2F) conversion in the world has flown for the first time. The upgrade was finished by Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) for the client AerCap, and Kalitta Air, a US-based cargo carrier, is anticipated to start using the freighter later this year.
As the much awaited conversion program gets closer to its start, the first “Big Twin” Boeing 777-300ERSF, which stands for “Extended Range Special Freighter,” ascended to the skies on Friday. The Big Twin will be a significant addition to the long-haul cargo market because it can carry up to 25% more cargo than the 777-200F and has numerous efficiency advantages over other large freighters. The flight, which departed Tel Aviv early on March 24 and took off and landed safely, took off and soared to a maximum altitude of 20,000 feet over the Mediterranean.
The plane was originally a passenger Boeing 777-300ER that belonged to Emirates in 2005. It flew for the Middle Eastern airline for 15 years until being acquired by GECAS in 2020 and then AerCap in 2021 after the latter’s takeover of the former. The widebody P2F will be powered by two GE90 engines with a 21% lower fuel consumption than the Boeing 747-400F and have a maximum payload of 101.6 tonnes.
The test flight is one of the last obstacles to clearing in order to receive full certification, which IAI states is “in the closing stages” before its projected entrance into service later this year. This isn’t too much beyond IAI’s initial forecasts of a 2022 entry date, with supply chain concerns significantly delaying the program. If all goes according to plan, the first 777-300ERSF should enter service with launch customer Kalitta Air as early as the first half of 2023.
IAI has 45 years of experience in cargo conversion, including P2F programs for the Boeing 767-200/300, 747-400, and 737-700/800, all of which are still in use today. The business has collaborated on more than 60 P2F conversions with lessor AerCap, with whom it has a long-standing working relationship.
With the popularity of the passenger Boeing 777-300ER, which has approximately 850 orders, it’s not surprising that demand for the converted freighter has skyrocketed. To meet this demand, IAI has opened more conversion facilities across the world.
AerCap has a firm order for 20 conversions and options for an additional 10, while Kalitta Air signed on as the P2F twinjet’s launch customer back in October 2020. The program has already attracted a significant number of orders, with over 60 believed to be scheduled for delivery within the next five years. In addition to these significant clients, AerCap recently announced an agreement with Hong Kong-based cargo operator Fly Meta for the delivery of four of the converted widebodies between 2024 and 2025. These customers include Canadian cargo airline CargoJet and Taiwanese carrier Eva Air.
