747 Freighter Service: Developments of Success

The first 747 Freighter, delivered to Lufthansa on March 9, 1972, marked the beginning of a new era in air cargo transportation. Since then developments applied to the 747 Freighter not only increased its cargo volume and range capability, but also reduced its operating cost per unit of cargo. Today 747 Freighters provide efficient worldwide service and transport two-thirds of all the air cargo in the commercial freighter market. The future will see new technologies applied to the 747 Freighter; improvements that will continue to reaffirm its position as the leader in the air cargo transportation market. These developments will repeat the patterns of the past, i.e., delivering the most productive, most efficient, most successful freighter aircraft into the marketplace.