UPS has increased airlift capacity between Hong Kong and its European hub at Cologne/Bonn with theintroduction of its first B747-400 freighter on the route. The move is part of the ongoing build-up
of a 14-strong B747-400 intercontinental fleet.UPS Europe executives officially presented the new B747-400 freighter at a ceremony withCologne airport officials on Monday (November 24). The B747-400F, operating five times a week, hasairlift capacity for up to 120 tonnes, with 30 main-deck container positions and lower-deck spacefor 32 smaller containers. It can fly up to 8,000km.
“This aircraft is replacing an MD-11 freighter in our European air fleet,” said WolfgangFlick, president of UPS Europe. “The double-digit growth in our export volumes from Europe hasprompted us to use planes such as this one – large planes that can transport many goods over longdistances.”
The 747-400 is the first freighter in the UPS fleet with a hinged nose. This nose-loadingcapability is ideal for air freight, allowing for extra large or extra long shipments, UPS pointedout. The aircraft also features latest flight technology, including a ‘Health Management’ system todiagnose problems in-flight and a system giving pilots better surveillance of nearby aircraft.
As part of an on-going effort to accommodate strong international volume growth, UPS ispurchasing eight new and six other Boeing 747-400 freighters for use on global trunk routes betweenNorth America, Asia, Europe and the Middle East. The first new B747-400F was delivered in July 2007and initially put into operation on routes between the USA and Asia.
UPS Airlines now has eight new B747-400 freighters delivered during 2007 and 2008 inoperation, while a ninth aircraft acquired from EVA Airlines is under conversion from passengerconfiguration. It is scheduled to take delivery in December of another EVA Airlines B747 passengerplane for conversion, and then four Cargolux 747-400 freighters during 2009 and 2010 (two eachyear).
In all, UPS Airlines, the world’s ninth largest airline, currently has 265 aircraft and afurther 32 on order. The intercontinental fleet includes 38 MD-11s, 11 B747-100s and -200s, 32B767s and the B747-400s.
