Air France Plans to Buy Boeing 777 Freighter

Air France said it planned to replace part of its aging fleet of cargo planes with Boeing Co.’s new 777 freighter, but the airline would not say whether it would become the launch customer for the proposed new airplane.

Boeing spokesman Marc Birtel confirmed that Air France was among the airlines interested in the new plane, but he also would not speculate on when the French airline might bring the airplane into its fleet.

Air France spokesman Jean-Claude Couturier said the 777 freighter was the favored option to replace its eight Boeing 747-200s. But Air France would not comment on a report in financial daily La Tribune that the carrier was about to become Boeing’s launch customer by ordering seven of the 777 freighters.

The 777 freighter would be based on the passenger version of the long-range 777-200LR, which is scheduled to enter service in early 2006.