The aircraft, a 747-8F registered LX-VCA and named ‘City of Vianden’, takes off from Boeing’s Paine Field in Everett, Washington, on 8 March and arrives in Luxembourg on 9 March.

‘This is a proud moment for Cargolux,’ said Richard Forson, Cargolux Interim President and CEO. ‘Our history and relationship with Boeing is a long and fruitful one. The 747 has become a mainstay of our fleet and a true workhorse. Cargolux and Boeing have a lot in common; both companies share the same spirit and always aim to push frontiers. My congratulations and thanks also go to Boeing for making this milestone possible.’

The 747-8 Freighter offers a range of 4,325 nautical miles (8,010 km) and enables operators to choose between carrying greater revenue payload—up to an additional 22 tons (20 tonnes)—or flying up to 1,000 nautical miles (1,850 km) farther in markets where cargo density requirements are lower. The airplane upholds its predecessor’s legendary efficiency, with nearly equivalent trip costs and lower tonne-km costs than the 747-400 Freighter.

‘We are proud of the enduring relationship Boeing and Cargolux have built together,’ said Todd Nelp, vice president of European Sales, Boeing Commercial Airplanes. ’This milestone delivery is testament to the incredible capabilities of the 747-8 Freighter, providing double-digit improvements in fuel burn, lower operating costs and emissions and more revenue-generating cargo volume.’

Cargolux initially introduced the 747 Freighter in 1979 when it acquired its first two new 747-200Fs from Boeing. The introduction of the 747-200F, with its increased capacity and unique nose cargo door enabled Cargolux to gain a foothold in the world cargo market and grow profitably throughout the 1980s.

Cargolux became the world’s first operator of the 747-400 Freighter in 1993. At the time, the 747 400 Freighter was the largest commercial cargo transport in service, with the lowest tonne-km cost in the
industry which provided Cargolux with the ability to carry twice as much cargo, twice as far, and grow into the world’s leading all-cargo airline.

In 2005, Cargolux pioneered another new aircraft type in the air cargo industry when it ordered 13 Boeing 747-8 Freighters. The first airplane joined the Luxembourg launch customer in late 2011, making Cargolux the first operator of the type worldwide and was put directly into service flying to Seattle’s Sea-Tac International Airport where it was loaded with revenue cargo. Since 2011, the 747-8F has provided Cargolux with 16% lower operating economics and a 30% smaller noise footprint to keep the airline at the forefront of the world cargo market.

LX-VCA is the seventh 747-8F set to join the Cargolux fleet. Cargolux’s eighth 747-8F, LX-VCH, is slated for delivery in May.