"According to several sources on the internet, Saudi Arabian Cargo has obtained 2 Boeing 747-8F's previously ordered by Atlas Air. It would concern MSN 37562 & 37563, which would be registered HZ-AI3 and HZ-AI4 respectively.
These 2 airframes are of the earliest 748F's built and were in storage at Boeing field while the certification program was still in process. Atlas Air would have received newer 748F's while these 2 frames were converted to the latest production standard.
Boeing was looking for a new customer for the older airframes and added a sale of 2 748F's at the end of 2012 to an unidentified customer.This customer has now been identified as Saudi Arabian Cargo and the aircraft are expected to be taken into service in a short time."
AC.be wrote:
This should be interesting news for BRU & OST
will a fuel stop still be needed at OST then?
Those fuel stops at OST are not necessarily needed anyway, BRU can take them in also. For SV it might be a bit more convenient to stop at OST iso BRU. They have a network wide agreement with AP for handling so no difference there.
These fuel stops often have some cargo loaded/offloaded. So in range they can fly it non stop, though commercially they might be better of with a stopover in BRU or OST. And last but not least: they might have to stop after the TA crossing due to duty times of the pilots as they sometimes do multiple stops in the USA also.
SV plans to operate a first flight with their B747-8F next weekend, arrival on Saterday and departure on Sunday in preparation of their scheduled flights. Scheduled flights are not planned as of May as initially planned, but as of end June / beginning July!
