ANA Cargo adds second 777F

Yesterday, ANA Cargo’s second 777F (65757) was ferried from Boeing’s Everett factory (PAE) on delivery to Tokyo Haneda (HND) [FAT 004920]. The aircraft arrived in Tokyo at around 17:15 local time.

The aircraft is one of two 777Fs ANA plans to deploy on routes from Tokyo Narita (NRT), to Osaka Kansai (KIX) and Shanghai (PVG) from July, and to Chicago (ORD) beginning  in October. Despite the current trade dispute between China and the US, a senior executive at ANA Cargo previously confirmed to Cargo Facts that those plans had not changed, even though ANA’s airfreight volumes to China had dropped by 24% year-on-year in the first quarter of 2019.

Cargo traffic between China and the US is a major market for ANA, and ORD will mark the start of trans-Pacific freighter operations using the carrier’s own metal. ANA already offers capacity to North America through codeshare and block space agreements signed with Nippon Cargo Airlines last year. In particular, ANA from this summer is chartering NCA capacity on two round trips per week between NRT and ORD, and will continue to do so even after its own 777F operations begin. ANA is expected to utilize the 777Fs on other trans-Pacific flights, and flights to Europe. To date, however, the carrier has so far not announced additional route plans for the 777Fs.

         See also: NCA’s 747F fleet to be fully operational ahead of peak season

Apart from the two 777Fs, ANA Cargo already operates four 767-300Fs and eight 767-300BCFs on intra-Asia routes from its hubs in Osaka (KIX), Tokyo (NRT and HND) and Okinawa (OKA). ANA placed the order for the two 777Fs in March 2018. The Japanese carrier’s first 777F (65756) has not flown since it arrived at HND on 24 May [FAT004893], after having been parked at Victorville (VCV) for around five months.

Interested in how the global freighter fleet will develop over the next 20 years? The Cargo Facts Consulting 2019 Freighter Forecast is available now. Visit www.cfcinsights.com for more information. Those who purchase the Report prior to 17 June will also gain access to a live webinar with Cargo Facts Consulting Managing Director and report author, Frederic Horst.