British Airways upgrades to 747-8 freighter

British Airways upgrades to 747-8 freighter    British Airways said Thursday it will augment its freighter fleet by swapping out three Boeing 747-400 planes for new Boeing 747-8 freighters in 2011 through a lease arrangement with Global Supply Systems Ltd.
   Under the five-year wet lease, GSS will supply, operate, maintain and insure the long-haul aircraft on behalf of British Airways. United Kingdom-based GSS will lease the 747-8s from Atlas Air, the U.S. air cargo fleet operator, which owns a 49 percent stake in the company. Atlas said it expects to take delivery of the aircraft from Boeing in early 2011.
   The planes will carry the BA livery and BA World Cargo logo.
   The 747-8 has an increased range of 4,475 nautical miles (8,275 kilometers), a 154-ton payload and 16 percent more revenue-generating cargo volume than the 747-400. It is 18.3 feet longer than the 747-400. The additional volume offers space for four additional main deck pallets and three more lower-hold pallets than its predecessor. The 747-8 is also quieter and more economical to operate, according to air cargo operators.
   The 747-8 is undergoing flight testing. Boeing said it plans to make the first delivery of the new aircraft in the fourth quarter. ' Eric Kulisch