EVA Air will purchase five 777 Freighters from the aircraft manufacturer at an estimated cost of $1.5 billion at list prices.
Boeing and EVA Air finalized an order in Taipei this week for five GE90-115B powered Boeing 777 Freighters, costing over $1.5 billion at list prices, which EVA Air will use on its transpacific and Asian routes to gradually replace the airline’s existing freighter fleet.
EVA said in a statement it will take delivery of the first freighter in Oct. 2017 and that all five freighters should be operational by Sept. 2019.
Once operational, EVA’s 777 Freighters will carry payloads of up to a 102 tons and reduce fuel consumption by 25 percent in comparison to its 747-400 freighters.
The Taipei, Taiwan-based airfreight carrier’s air cargo fleet is currently composed of eight 747-400 freighters and six MD-11 freighters, forming service network that covers 64 cities around the globe.
The 777 Freighter, which is capable of flying 4,900 nautical miles, is the largest and longest range twin-engine freighter in the world, according to Boeing. The freighter’s range capability offers many benefits, including less stops and associated landing fees, reduced congestion at transfer hubs, lower cargo handling costs and shorter cargo delivery times.