Emirates orders more Boeing 777F freighters, sources say

Dubai's Emirates, one of the world's largest cargo carriers, is expanding its fleet of Boeing 777F freighters as it plans for a sharp increase in cargo trade, industry sources said. The order for more of the current-generation freighters emerged amid tensions between Emirates and Boeing over separate delays, but pre-dated Boeing's announcement on Friday that its future 777X jetliner series would slip by another year to 2026. In September, Boeing reported orders from unidentified buyers for 11 777F freighters, without giving details. The sources said part of the total included a fresh order for the 777F from Emirates. The airline and Boeing declined to comment. Emirates is the largest operator of the 777 family and the largest customer for its delayed successor, the 777X. Emirates Airline President Tim Clark criticised Boeing earlier this week over a cumulative six-year delay to the 777X, as the planemaker wrestles with industrial and financial crisis. Emirates has around a dozen current-generation 777F cargo jets in its fleet plus four on order, already listed under its name, according to Cirium Ascend and Boeing data. It is also leasing four 747s and their crews to meet demand, Cirium says. Airlines frequently withhold their names on new orders until ready to announce them. Abu Dhabi-based newspaper The National on Wednesday quoted a senior airline executive as saying that Emirates planned to announce a further investment in freighters in coming weeks.<br/>