MUKILTEO — Air France sees its new Boeing Co. 777 Freighter as a competitive advantage in these rough economic times.
“I think it’s very important that we could get and could operate a more efficient product,” said Pierre Vellay, executive vice president for new aircraft for Air France, during the jet’s delivery ceremony Thursday.
But the launch customer for Boeing’s latest cargo jet will defer two of its five freighters on order, he said.
Air France’s deferral isn’t surprising given the 22.6 percent drop in traffic cargo carriers saw last December, according to an International Air Transport Association report. The industry group expects cargo traffic to decline by roughly 5 percent this year and passenger travel to drop by 3 percent.
Still, “the 777 Freighter uses less fuel per cargo ton than any freighter operating,” said Aldo Basile, Boeing’s vice president of sales in Europe, Russia and Central Asia.
Air France, along with a handful of other airlines, played an active role in the creation of the 777 Freighter, Vellay said during the ceremony held at the Future of Flight Aviation Center and Boeing Tour in Mukilteo. The process began before the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001. But the carriers and Boeing remained committed to introducing a new twin-engine cargo jet.
“I hope this will be a very sexy product for the investors,” Vellay said.
Boeing has won 73 orders from 12 customers for its latest cargo jet. The jet maker delayed the initial delivery of its 777 Freighter by a few months following its Machinists’ strike last fall.
“We are protecting our future in introducing this plane,” Vellay said.
Vellay said the airline has not canceled any of the 17 777 passenger planes that it has on order with Boeing. But Air France is reviewing the passenger planes it has scheduled for delivery past 2010.
Air France walks a bit of a tightrope between Boeing and its competitor Airbus, which is based in Toulouse, France. The airline has orders for Airbus’ single-aisle A320 and A380 superjumbo jet.
The Future of Flight also showcased an exhibit celebrating Air France’s 75th anniversary
Separately, Boeing announced the cancellation of an order for its 787 Dreamliner. The delayed aircraft has racked up 33 cancellations over the past few months. Boeing plans to put the 787 into flight by the end of June.
With the new 787 cancellation and an Alaska Airlines order for one 737 announced Thursday, Boeing remains in the negative in terms of orders this year. The company’s stock closed down 41 cents at $37.51.
Reporter Michelle Dunlop: 425-339-3454, mdunlop@heraldnet.com.
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