DHL Express orders 9 Boeing 777-200LR converted freighters

DHL Express has ordered nine Mammoth Freighters-converted Boeing 777-200LR freighters from lessor Jetran.

The first cargo aircraft will be delivered in 2024, with the remaining aircraft to be supplied until early 2027.

The 777-200LRs will replace DHL’s older Boeing 747 freighters as part of the sustainability-focused plan to modernise DHL Express’ long-haul intercontinental fleet.

DHL Express said ordering converted freighters with a shorter useful life provides an efficient bridge between current and new airframe technologies, such as those used with the new generation 777-8F and Airbus A350F widebody freighters.

“We are excited to welcome Mammoth-converted 777-200LRFs to the DHL Express family,” stated Robert Hyslop, executive vice president global aviation at DHL Express.

“With the modernisation of our intercontinental fleet, we can simultaneously enhance our proven ability to meet growing demand, improve our environmental footprint and deliver best quality service to our customers.

“We are pleased to continue demonstrating to partners and customers alike how these advancements elevate our service and bring us closer to our Sustainability Roadmap goals.”

The Mammoth converted 777-200LR freighter has similar characteristics to the production freighter. With a payload capacity of 102 tons and a range of 9,200 km, the 777F has the largest capacity and range of all twin-engine freighter aircraft and is more reliable than older B747 planes, said DHL Express.

It is also more fuel-efficient and reduces CO2 emissions by 18% compared to legacy airplanes.

Between 2018 and 2022, DHL bought 28 new 777-200Fs from Boeing – 18 of those aircraft are currently in service. The remaining aircraft will be delivered from 2023 to 2025.

The aircraft form a key part of DHL’s intercontinental air network, in which DHL Express operates more than 300 dedicated aircraft with 18 partner airlines on over 2,400 daily flights, across 220 countries and territories.

Based in Orlando, Florida, Mammoth Freighters was founded in December 2020 specifically to design, develop, convert, and support the development of passenger to freighter conversions. The launch type is the Boeing 777 – both the 200 LR and 300 ER variants.