Korean Air takes delivery of Boeing 747-8, 777 freighters

Korean Air has taken delivery of its first 747-8 and 777 Freighters from Boeing, to expand its cargo fleet making it the first airline to operate both cargo jets.

The airline plans to fly the 747-8F on its transatlantic route with stops in Osaka, Narita, Los Angeles and San Francisco, while the twin engine 777F will be used to expand into new markets in Europe, including Vienna, Frankfurt and London.

Boeing 747-8 Freighter has a range of 4,390 nautical miles with a maximum structural payload capacity of 148 tonnes and offers additional 4,221 cubic feet (120 m3) and 16% more cargo volume.

The twin-engine, fuel-efficient Boeing 777 Freighter offers a cargo capacity of 103 tonnes with a range of 9,038 kilometers (4,880 nautical miles).

Korean Air chairman Yang Ho Cho said the company is proud to become the first airline in the world to have the combined strengths of these two freighters in its fleet.

"Our cargo fleet is being improved by these fuel-saving planes and they can help reduce carbon emissions by 17 percent and this supports our goal to be a responsible citizen of the world," Ho Cho said.

Boeing Commercial Airplanes president and CEO Jim Albaugh said the company is honored to celebrate this historic delivery with YH Cho and the Korean Air family.

"It is hard to imagine reaching this day without the leadership of YH and his vision to transform Korean Air into one of the best global airlines in the world," Albaugh said.

Korean Air currently operates a fleet of 142 aircraft and flies about 400 flights per day to 119 destinations in 40 countries.