Fleet Plan News: Cathay Pacific receives first 747-8F

The Hong Kong based carrier took delivery of the aircraft (reg B-LJE, serial 39242) on 31 October 2011. Cathay Pacific has 10 more General Electric GEnx-2B67 powered 747-8F's on order and plans to use the type to replace its current fleet of eight Boeing 747-400BCF converted freighters. The aircraft is actually the fifth in sequence for the carrier, which includes reg B-LJA / serial 39238, B-LJB / 39239, B-LJC / 39240 and B-LJD / 39241. Six of the remaining aircraft were expected to be delivered in 2012 and the final two in 2014, although one press report suggests that all four of the above aircraft will now be delivered before the end of 2011. With the arrival of the first Boeing 747-8F, the airline will shortly be operating a fleet of 21 wide-body freighters serving more than 40 destinations. Cathay also carries cargo in the belly holds of its passenger aircraft, connecting to some 150 destinations around the world.

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