News / To nose-load or not to nose-load, that's the question for cargo carriers

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Freighter operators are dividing into two: those that want 747s, and those that don’t. Qatar Airways Cargo has taken one of its 747Fs out of operation, while Challenge Group has grown its fleet.

Qatar’s flag-carrier airline has been operating two 747Fs since 2017, but put one into storage last month.  

Indeed, at the December 2023 ACE air cargo conference in Abu Dhabi, Elodie Berthonneau of Qatar Airways (QR) said: “Nose-loading only represents 1% to 2% of the cargo we carry. We don’t ...