Cargolux takes delivery of last B747-400F

Cargolux Airlines International last week in Seattle took delivery of its 16th and final Boeing 747-400 freighter.

The Luxembourg-based all-cargo airline in 1993 became the first operator of the 747-400F and will gradually replace them from 2009 with 13 new B747-8Fs that will be powered by General Electric's GEnx engines.

Up until Boeing developed the B747-8F, the B747-400F was the most economical freighter for long range markets, said Ulrich Ogiermann, Cargolux's president and chief executive officer. It allowed us to eliminate technical stops on many routes, thus improving the flow of goods and services upon which our customers rely. The B747-400F is also the most fuel-efficient long-range freighter aircraft. This has always been a key asset for Cargolux, allowing strong increases in the productivity and cost-effectiveness of our operation, at the same time providing the most environment-friendly transport of goods.