Cathay Pacific welcomes arrival of new Boeing 747-8 Freighter 'Hong Kong trader' to Dubai

The aircraft comes with a special livery and its name, Hong Kong Trader, is taken from Cathay Pacific's very first 747 freighter which entered the fleet in 1982 and helped the airline to develop its position as one of the world's biggest and most highly regarded international airfreight carriers.

Cathay Pacific is the first Asia Pacific airline to take delivery of the Boeing 747-8F, which has employed innovative technologies to bring about significant efficiency improvements. These include a high-lift, low-drag wing that enhances payload and range performance, a simplified flap system to reduce noise and maintenance costs, and what is described as the most advanced commercial aircraft engine available, the GEnx-2B67.

The aircraft will greatly improve the efficiency and payload of Cathay Pacific's ultra-long-haul freighter services, particularly on North American routes, and at the same time reduce the environmental impact of its operations. The new freighter's technological innovations, including the advanced engine and use of composites and lighter alloys, will lead to significantly reduced fuel consumption and emissions. The aircraft also has a noise footprint some 30% smaller than its predecessors.

Cathay Pacific Country Manager UAE & Oman, Brian Yuen said: "We are proud to be amongst the first few airlines to operate the Boeing 747-8 Freighter to Dubai, a major transit port for Cathay Pacific's European bound freighters. The addition of 747-8F to our freighter fleet will give us an increased payload over a longer range with superb operating economics and also enable us to provide an even better service to our customers."

Cathay Pacific has 13 Boeing 747-8Fs on order with eight already in operation. The airline currently operates a fleet of 24 wide-body freighters serving more than 40 international destinations and also carries cargo in the bellies of its passenger aircraft, connecting to over 170 destinations around the world.