Kalitta Air receives first Boeing 777-300ERSF converted freighters

AerCap delivered the first two Boeing 777-300ERSF converted freighters to Kalitta Air on September 15. The aircraft arrived at Kalitta’s Oscoda, Michigan facility on September 12 and 13, and are scheduled to enter commercial service in October.

Kalitta Air has been the launch operator for the 777-300ERSF conversion program since 2020, as part of a plan to gradually replace its Boeing 747 freighter fleet. The delivery is part of an agreement established between AerCap and Kalitta Air in 2019 to introduce the 777-300ER in a dedicated cargo configuration.

Developed by IAI, the Boeing 777-300ERSF (also know as ‘Big Twin’) offers a payload capacity of 100 metric tonnes (220,000 pounds) and a total cargo volume of 811 cubic meters. The aircraft received the type certification from the Civil Aviation Authority of Israel (CAAI) and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).

Because it is a conversion, the ‘Big Twin’ will not offer the same cargo density as the 777F, so it will be better used on flights to serve e-commerce and express deliveries.

One of the great appeals of the project is the low cost of the program, estimated at $35 million per aircraft (or a tenth of the list price of a new 777F).

According to AerCap, the 777-300ERSF is expected to lower operational costs compared to existing widebody freighters. The type is also projected to reduce CO2 emissions by up to 20%, contributing to efforts to decrease the carbon footprint of air cargo transport.

Kalitta Air, a US-based cargo airline, operates a global fleet of Boeing 747 and 777 freighters, serving various sectors. The addition of the 777-300ERSF is designed to increase efficiency and range, while supporting the airline’s transition from older aircraft.

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