OREANDA-NEWS. Cargolux Airlines International today announced that it has ordered an additional 747-8 Freighter from Boeing as part of its ongoing fleet renewal and expansion program. This additional airplane takes the total orders to 14 B747-8F airplanes. It will support the airline's growth on the back of an expected increase in cargo volumes fueled by a recovery in world trade growth and improved business confidence.

Cargolux currently operates 9 Boeing 747-8 Freighters and 11 Boeing 747-400 Freighters that are successively replaced by the newer model. The additional 747-8 Freighter is expected to be delivered in March 2015. In 2014, the airline will add LX-VCJ and LX-VCK, two of the new generation aircraft from Boeing, to its fleet.

Since the delivery of the first 747-8 Freighter to launch customer Cargolux in 2011, the new aircraft type has proven to be a valuable addition to the airline's fleet with unsurpassed economics, lower operational costs and environmental advances. The new Cargolux workhorse has shown high dispatch reliability and, in 2013, has achieved an average daily utilization of almost 16 hours, one of the highest in the industry.