National Airlines adds fourth Boeing 777 freighter

National Airlines has taken delivery of its fourth Boeing 777-200 freighter, registered N798CA, at Boeing's Everett production facility in Washington. The delivery completes the order for four B777 freighters that National placed at the 2024 Farnborough International Air Show, and marks the first time the US-registered cargo carrier has added brand-new, factory-built freighters to its fleet.

The aircraft's arrival follows a steady build-up through the year. National took delivery of its first 777 freighter in April, and by May had completed test flights for its second 777F in Everett ahead of that aircraft's handover. The airline has also continued to invest in the powerplants behind the expansion: in July, GE Aerospace confirmed a new engine order from National, covering a GE90-110B engine and six CF6-80C2 engines to support its Boeing 777F and 747F freighters.

The aircraft completed its first test flight under the callsign BOE494 on August 11. Its third test flight took place on August 19, lasting 1 hour and 33 minutes, operating out of Paine Field.

With N798CA’s arrival, National Airlines' freighter fleet now comprises four Boeing 777-200 freighters and nine Boeing 747-400 freighters, alongside its Airbus A330-300 and A330-200 passenger aircraft. The new aircraft is set to enter commercial service shortly after delivery, adding to National's capacity to serve long-haul, high-value and time-critical cargo markets worldwide.

“The delivery of N798CA represents another important milestone in National Airlines’ growth and fleet strategy,” said Christopher Alf, Chairman, National Airlines. “With four Boeing 777 freighters now part of our fleet, we have significantly enhanced our long-haul cargo capabilities and our ability to respond to the evolving needs of our customers. We greatly appreciate our partnership with Boeing, GE and all the associated teams whose collaboration and commitment made the successful delivery of these four B777 freighters possible. These aircraft will help us to offer renewed transportation solutions and create greater opportunities across the global supply chain network.”

The Boeing 777-200 freighter is built for long-haul cargo operations, offering strong payload capacity, extended range and operational flexibility. Its large main-deck cargo door supports a wide range of freight types, from time-sensitive shipments and industrial equipment to pharmaceuticals, e-commerce goods and humanitarian supplies. National's 777 freighters can carry more than 100 tonnes of cargo or fly close to 5,000 nautical miles nonstop, depending on load.

National Airlines recently operated its brand-new third Boeing 777 freighter on a nonstop flight from Glasgow Prestwick Airport in Scotland to Melbourne, Australia. The aircraft covered 15,850 km in 19 hours and 23 minutes, transporting urgent Aircraft on Ground (AOG) parts for another airline.

Established in 1991, National Air Cargo, Inc. provides premium global end-to-end logistics, freight forwarding and charter airline services. National Airlines, the airline division of the company, is a US FAA-certificated Part 121 air carrier. The company provides on-demand commercial cargo and passenger charter services to more than 450 airports worldwide, serving sectors including defense, e-commerce, automotive, energy, high-tech, fashion, pharmaceuticals, oil and gas, and space technology. National operates offices and hubs in Buffalo, Orlando, Houston, Chicago, Frankfurt, Madrid, Amsterdam, Dubai, Bengaluru, Kuala Lumpur, Tokyo, Shanghai, Hong Kong and Taipei.