Boeing has delivered the first Boeing 747-8 Freighter, powered by the GEnx engine, to the launch customer Cargolux Airlines as part of a firm order totalling 13 747-8 aircraft.

The new GEnx-2B67 engines incorporate a composite fan case and blades and a revolutionary turbine to create double-digit efficiency gains over previous engines.

The 747-8 Freighter offers double-digit improvements in fuel burn, operating cost and lower emissions over the airplane it replaces, the company said.

The new model carries a maximum structural payload capacity of 147.6t.