Why the B747-400F and what are the advantages of a dedicated freighter fleet?

Cargolux operates a uniform fleet of 13 B747-400 Freighters. This is the largest and most modern aircraft currently available on the market, capable of transporting a payload of 124 tons and flying non-stop for 8,240 km. This aircraft also offers the lowest operating cost per ton-km in the industry.

Being the owner of a single aircraft fleet allows Cargolux to achieve significant economies, in particular in terms of maintenance and providing the necessary training to our crews. Our customers also benefit from seamless connection possibilities on our network worldwide, even if more than one aircraft is involved.

Cargolux’s all freighter fleet makes it possible to land at freight-dedicated airports, thereby avoiding many of the congested and expensive passenger hubs. This substantially increases our scope for network flexibility and further reduces our operating costs.

With an average age of around 6 years Cargolux’s fleet is also one of the youngest in the sector, which further reduces maintenance costs and increases our dispatch reliability compared to our competitors. Eight of the thirteen aircraft in the fleet are equipped with Rolls-Royce RB211 engines, the most fuel-efficient and environmentally friendly engine available for this type of aircraft. With almost 16 block-hours per day Cargolux has one of the highest daily aircraft utilization rates in the entire aviation sector.