A New Boeing 777 Is Coming

A new Boeing 777 variant is on the way, with the world’s first converted passenger-to-freight aircraft of this type receiving approval.

Supplemental type certification has arrived from the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration and Israel’s CAA, which allows for the conversion of a Boeing 777 passenger jet to a freighter able to carry 100 tons.

Israel Aerospace Industries, commonly referred to as IAI, remains a leader in converting commercial aircraft from passenger to freighter use worldwide.

Over the past year, a fundamental process has been underway to obtain the landmark conversion certification for what is known as a 777-300ERSF, a conversion from a passenger plane into a dedicated freighter aircraft.

This long-standing widebody is a fantastic platform for this conversion, and IAI sees the move as a breakthrough in aviation. Now, it can hold the title as the world’s first to move ahead with a conversion on such a sheer scale.

AerCap has already cemented itself as the launch customer of the 777-300ERSF. At the same time, Kalitta is the launch operator and is eagerly awaiting the opportunity to take on this revised freighter as part of efforts to increase flying payloads and freshen up the fleet.

IAI has customers worldwide, including prominent companies such as Amazon, DHL, and others. It looks to supply companies with solutions to meet demand, and the 777 converted freighter is the next step in building upon a long-standing footprint.

Why Convert The Boeing 777?

But why the Boeing 777, and why now, as IAI moves ahead with the passenger-to-freight conversion and remains not the only provider looking to do something similar in the near term for freight operators?

As the 777X enters service in the coming years, it marks a changing of the guard and reminds the industry that the -200ER and the -300ER models have reached a point where, in some instances, their age is showing.

With airlines seeking to phase in more efficient aircraft, just because some companies may be looking to offload the Boeing 777 as a passenger jet, it doesn’t mean it cannot serve a fundamentally different purpose elsewhere.

As seen across the industry, the platform, through this Boeing widebody, now offers something that can be converted into a dedicated freighter, extending its life in the skies considerably and serving a different market.

The 777 conversion would not be the first to have been seen, and certainly will not be the last; even recent conversions of older Airbus A321 jets on a much smaller scale have occurred, with Qantas Freight being one of the many recipients, including Lufthansa Cargo.

Therefore, if freight operators can sense an opportunity to take on a converted freighter at a fraction of the cost of a next-generation model, it presents a chance that cannot be turned down.

The 777-300ER is widely regarded as a fantastic opportunity around the world, thanks to its sizable capacity, which can be compared to that of some of the largest freighters in operation.