Boeing has confirmed additionalorders for its B747-8 freighters andB787s.

AN-124 freighter operator Volga-Dnepr Group has confirmed an orderfor five B747-8 freighters with purchaserights for another five to be operated byscheduled subsidiary AirBridge Cargoon routes to Southeast Asia, China,Japan and Europe.

Boeing said this order was previouslyaccounted for and associated with anunidentified customer on Boeing’s Ordersand Deliveries website in 2006.

As orders for the competing A380freighter evaporate, Volga-Dneprbecomes the seventh customer announcedfor the new 747-8 Freighter,joining Atlas Air, Cargolux, Emirates,Guggenheim Aviation Partners, NipponCargo Airlines and Korean Air.

Boeing launched the 747-8 on November14, 2005, with orders for 18747-8 Freighters – 10 from Cargolux ofLuxembourg and eight from NipponCargo Airlines (NCA) – of Japan. Theprogram now has 78 orders for boththe freighter and passenger versionscombined.

Boeing and ALAFCO Aviation Leaseand Finance Company of Kuwait hadsigned for 12 787-8 aircraft and six737-800s.

– John Spiers