Qatar Airways Cargo is experiencing delays in the delivery of its first converted Boeing 777 freighters from Mammoth Freighters due to a federal government shutdown in the United States. The Doha-based airline had ordered five 777-200LRMF aircraft from the Fort Worth, Texas-based company as a strategic response to the postponed delivery of its new Boeing 777-8F freighters. The airline was expected to receive the first two aircraft this quarter but now anticipates that the initial delivery will be pushed to January 2024.
Mark Drusch, Chief Cargo Officer at Qatar Airways, confirmed that the ongoing government shutdown, which began on October 1, 2023, has hindered the Supplemental Type Certification (STC) process necessary for the aircraft’s approval. “That timeline is still indeterminate, because the US government shutdown means that the certification process has slowed down,” Drusch said. “We need to see how much work can get done and how long the shutdown will be to determine when we get the aircraft. Right now, we are assuming that we get the first aircraft in January.”
The ramifications of the shutdown could extend beyond the first aircraft, potentially delaying the delivery of all five freighters. Drusch noted that disruptions within the air cargo industry have become routine, with ongoing tariffs and the conclusion of the de minimis exemption complicating trade and supply chain flows throughout the year. “We were expecting to get the first and second aircraft this quarter,” he added. “Until we really know when the first one comes, we won’t know when units two through five arrive.”
Despite the uncertainty, Drusch expressed confidence in the eventual delivery of the aircraft. “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,” he stated.
In May 2023, Qatar Airways Cargo was confirmed as the launch customer for Mammoth’s 777-200 conversion program after signing an agreement for five aircraft with the Texas-based lessor Jetran. This move was partly motivated by delays in the delivery schedule for the new 777-8F jets that Qatar Airways has on order. In 2022, the airline ordered 34 of Boeing’s new 777-8F jets, which are now expected to enter service no earlier than 2028.
As of September 2023, Mammoth was conducting final test flights for the 777-200LRMF as it moved closer to receiving the necessary STC. The company had been carrying out both company and formal Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) test flights, initially planning to complete these by early October. Once the STC is granted, Mammoth will begin handing over the 777-200LRMFs to Qatar Airways Cargo, allowing the airline to enhance its cargo operations with these new freighters.
The current situation underscores the complex interplay between regulatory processes and operational timelines within the aviation sector, particularly as airlines navigate challenges arising from broader economic factors.
