Aircraft
Cargo carriers mulling how best to ship their packages
The delivery this month of the first Boeing 747-400F cargo aircraft to United Parcel Service (UPS) comes as the package hauler mulls its next move.

The delivery this month of the first Boeing 747-400F cargo aircraft to United Parcel Service (UPS) comes as the package hauler mulls its next move. After dropping an order for 10 Airbus A380F very-large freighters, UPS has considered six options: obtain converted 747-400 passenger aircraft, buy more McDonnell Douglas MD-11Fs, order extra 747-400Fs or choose from among new Boeing 747-8F and 777F or Airbus A330Fs and potential A350 XWB cargo designs.

When Airbus postponed A380F development to concentrate on resolving its passenger A380 delays, remaining customers Emirates Airline, FedEx and International Lease Finance Corp. faced similar decisions. Emirates immediately leased three Boeing 747-400ERFs, of which the first already has entered service, and other freighters. FedEx has ordered 15 777Fs for delivery from 2009 and taken options on a further 15.