Is Qantas considering leasing the 747-8F? (Boeing)
Qantas Freight is reportedly considering a plan to lease a small number of Boeing 747-8F or 777F freighters, in an agreement likely to be announced in coming months, according to Air Transport Intelligence (ATI).
Qantas Freight currently wet-leases three 747-400F freighters from Atlas Air, with a Qantas spokesman telling ATI that the airline is “always looking at potential fleet options”.
Meanwhile, an Atlas Air spokeswoman said the company has already placed their first three deliveries of 747-8Fs with British Airways, and was currently “in talks with a number of additional existing and potential new customers” regarding the leasing of further aircraft. “We have received a great deal of interest in these game-changing aircraft from these parties, and we look forward to announcing the placement of aircraft with them at the appropriate time,” the spokeswoman told ATI.
3 comments
They will only realise the true potential of these aircraft when they get them in both their freighter & passenger fleets. The quicker, the better.
Qantas should have had pax 777s in their fleet 10 years ago, then they could slip the frieghter in next to the pax versions. Poor fleet choices over the last 15 years.
ide have to agree with pez here. QANTAS should have gone for 777 years ago, but to order the 777 freighters now could prove costly to intergrate them into the fleet. so i think if they decide to do this they should go for the 747-8F at least that way they could be serviced with the existing facillitys and it would be less costly in terms of training etc