Qatar Airways Cargo is experiencing delays in receiving its first 777 freighter conversions from Mammoth Freighters due to the ongoing federal government shutdown in the United States. The airline, based in Doha, Qatar, had planned to receive the first two of five 777-200LRMF aircraft this quarter as the launch customer for this conversion program. These delays stem from the certification process, which has been hindered by the shutdown that began on October 1, 2023.
Mark Drusch, chief cargo officer at Qatar Airways, stated that while Mammoth is nearing the final stages of securing Supplemental Type Certification (STC) for the 777-200LRMF, the shutdown has slowed progress. The first aircraft is now expected to arrive in January 2024. “That timeline is still indeterminate,” Drusch noted. “We need to see how much work can get done and how long the shutdown will be to determine when we get the aircraft.”
This situation has the potential to push back the deliveries of all five aircraft, which Qatar Airways had hoped to integrate into its fleet to alleviate delays associated with the new generation Boeing 777-8F jets. Drusch emphasized that disruptions in the air cargo industry have become routine, influenced by various factors including tariffs and changes to trade agreements throughout the year.
“We were expecting to get the first and second aircraft this quarter,” he added. “Until we know when the first one arrives, we won’t have clarity on the delivery schedule for units two through five.”
Despite the uncertainty, Drusch expressed confidence in the eventual delivery of the aircraft, emphasizing that it is a matter of timing rather than feasibility. “Those airplanes are going to come. It’s just a matter of what month. So I’m not worried. It’s not like they could be two or three years delayed. It’s not a longer-term issue.”
Qatar Airways Cargo signed an agreement to acquire the five converted freighters from Mammoth in May, confirming its position as the launch customer for the 777-200 conversion programme. Drusch indicated that the decision to pursue these conversions was partly influenced by delays in the delivery schedule of the 777-8F aircraft, which has now been postponed to as late as 2028. The airline had initially ordered 34 of these new jets, with options for an additional 16.
In September 2023, Mammoth was conducting final test flights for the 777-200LRMF as it worked towards obtaining the necessary STC. The company had previously announced that it was performing both company and formal Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) test flights, aiming to wrap up these evaluations by early October. Once the STC is granted, Mammoth will proceed with the handover of the 777-200LRMFs to Qatar Airways Cargo.
As the situation develops, industry stakeholders will continue to monitor the impact of the U.S. government shutdown on the certification process and the subsequent implications for air cargo operations globally.
