Mammoth inducts ex-Delta 777-200LR at STAECO for conversion

Mammoth Freighters announced the induction of its first Boeing 777-200LR aircraft at STAECO’s facility in Qingdao, China. The aircraft, registration N708DN (MSN 39254) and owned by Jetran, is the first Mammoth 777 freighter conversion to be undertaken at STAECO, marking a significant milestone in the company’s global expansion.

Cameron France, Vice President of Operations at Mammoth, hailed the induction as “an exciting milestone” and praised STAECO’s “exceptional technical expertise, highly skilled workforce, and proven track record in freighter modifications.” He emphasized that launching conversion operations in China strengthens Mammoth’s ability to serve the rapidly growing Asian cargo market.

This development follows Mammoth’s selection of STAECO in July 2026 as its newest modification partner, after a competitive request-for-proposal process. Mammoth announced plans to open one conversion line at STAECO’s Qingdao facility by September 2026, with a second line expected in early 2027. The partnership complements Mammoth’s existing sites at Aspire MRO in Fort Worth, Texas, and STS Aviation Services in Manchester, England, creating a third global conversion hub in China.

Jetran CEO Jordan Jaffe welcomed the milestone, noting, “The first Mammoth 777 to undergo conversion at this facility represents an exciting new chapter in the programme.” He expressed confidence in both Mammoth and STAECO, highlighting their ability to deliver next-generation freighter solutions.

STAECO Chairman Huang Enfang added, “This induction marks the beginning of an important new partnership and represents a significant step forward in expanding our widebody freighter conversion capabilities.” He underscored STAECO’s readiness to apply its modification expertise to the Mammoth 777 programme.

The aircraft itself carries a storied past. Built in 2009 for Delta Air Lines, N708DN was the airline’s ultra-long-haul flagship and the first US carrier-operated 777-200LR. It inaugurated Delta’s Atlanta–Mumbai service on June 11, 2009, and Atlanta–Sydney service on July 1, 2009. After 11 years of service, Delta retired its 777 fleet in 2020 during pandemic-era fleet simplification.

Following storage in the US and Singapore, the aircraft was re-registered as VT-AEI and delivered to Air India in June 2023, joining four other ex-Delta 777-200LRs under the name Uday. In March 2026, VT-AEI was involved in a notable incident when Air India flight AI185 from Delhi to Vancouver departed with the 777-200LR instead of the approved 777-300ER, flying over four hours before returning to Delhi due to regulatory limitations.

Now inducted into Mammoth’s 777-200LRMF (Long Range Mammoth Freighter) conversion programme, the aircraft will be transformed into a next-generation freighter, combining the proven performance and efficiency of the Boeing 777 platform with purpose-engineered cargo modifications. The induction at STAECO complements Mammoth’s US and UK partners, reinforcing its commitment to providing world-class conversion capabilities across multiple regions.

After more than five years of development, Mammoth's big breakthrough came in April 2026, when its B777-200LR Mammoth Freighter received FAA certification, clearing it for commercial operations. At the Farnborough International Airshow this year the converted aircraft was on display for the first time. It was converted for DHL Air UK, which operates flights for DHL Express and the wider DHL network. DHL ordered nine Mammoth-converted 777-200LR freighters in 2023, replacing older aircraft while bridging the gap until next-generation freighters like the Boeing 777-8F and Airbus A350F arrive.

Qatar Airways Cargo joined as launch customer in May 2025, ordering five 777-200LRMFs after Canadian carrier Cargojet exited the programme.

Mammoth Freighters operates two flagship Boeing 777 passenger‑to‑freighter conversion programmes: the 777‑200LRMF and the 777‑300ERMF. The 200LRMF is already FAA‑certified and in service, while the 300ERMF is progressing toward certification by late 2026. Together, they give Mammoth access to a large pool of long‑range widebody aircraft for conversion.

Mammoth Freighters was founded in December 2020 to design, develop, certify, and support passenger‑to‑freighter conversions, with an initial focus on the Boeing 777 platform. The company is a Boeing Licensee and is building a global conversion network with capacity for up to nine production lines across the US, UK, and China.