Mammoth Freighters has inducted its first Boeing 777-200LR at a conversion facility in China, expanding production of a relatively new passenger-to-freighter program that delivered its first completed aircraft only two months ago.
The aircraft has entered modification at the STAECO facility in Qingdao. The Chinese maintenance company became Mammoth's latest conversion partner in July, when the companies announced plans to establish two production lines at the site.
Unlike the Boeing 737, 757 and 767, which have accumulated large numbers of passenger-to-freighter conversions over several decades, the 777 has only recently entered this market. Mammoth received Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) certification for its 777-200LRMF in April 2026, becoming the first company approved to convert the passenger 777-200LR into a freighter.
The program provides another use for passenger 777-200LRs as airlines retire the type. The converted aircraft joins the factory-built Boeing 777F in the cargo market. Both are based on the 777-200LR platform, but Mammoth modifies existing passenger aircraft with a main-deck cargo door, reinforced floor and cargo handling systems.
First aircraft delivered in August
Mammoth delivered its first 777-200LRMF to Jetran on August 21. The aircraft is intended for DHL Air UK and had appeared publicly in DHL colors at the Farnborough International Airshow in July.
Jetran has committed more than two dozen 777-200LRs to the Mammoth conversion program. Thirteen are allocated to DHL, while Qatar Airways Cargo is due to receive five aircraft. Ethiopian Airlines has also agreed to take two converted 777-200LRs.
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Mammoth has used former Delta Air Lines aircraft as feedstock for the program after acquiring ten 777-200LRs previously operated by the US carrier.
The available pool is relatively small. Boeing built only around 60 passenger 777-200LRs, far fewer than the number of 777-300ERs produced, limiting the potential size of the conversion market for this variant.
The arrival of the first aircraft at STAECO adds China to Mammoth's conversion network. The company also has conversion capacity planned at Aspire MRO in Fort Worth, Texas, and STS Aviation Services in Manchester, England. A second STAECO line in Qingdao is planned for early 2027.
777-300ER conversion further ahead
The much larger passenger fleet of Boeing 777-300ERs provides a broader source of aircraft for conversion as older examples leave airline passenger fleets.
Mammoth is also developing the 777-300ERMF, although that variant has not yet been certified. Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) is further ahead with its competing 777-300ERSF, known as the Big Twin.
The first IAI-converted 777-300ER entered commercial service in September 2025. By July 2026, 11 converted aircraft were in operation and the fleet had accumulated more than 20,000 flight hours.
