DHL Receives First Mammoth-Converted Boeing 777 Freighter
Mammoth Freighters delivered its first converted Boeing 777-200LRMF freighter to lessor Jetran on August 21, 2026.
Mammoth Freighters delivered its first converted Boeing 777-200LRMF freighter to Texas-based lessor Jetran on August 21, 2026. The aircraft, a 2009-built 777-200LR that previously flew passengers for Delta Air Lines, will enter revenue service with DHL Air UK as part of DHL Express's intercontinental cargo network. It is the first of 13 Mammoth-converted 777 freighters committed to DHL and the first aircraft produced under a conversion program that received FAA certification in April 2026 after years of development delays.
Mammoth CEO Bill Tarpley described the delivery as "a defining moment for Mammoth Freighters." Jetran CEO Jordan Jaffe said accepting the first aircraft validates the engineering and production quality of the program. The delivery came five weeks after the aircraft made its public debut at the Farnborough International Airshow in July 2026.
Conversion Specifications and Performance
The 777-200LRMF is a passenger-to-freighter conversion. Mammoth strips the passenger interior, reinforces the cabin floor, installs a large maindeck cargo door, and fits an advanced cargo handling system. The converted aircraft's performance is close to that of the factory-built Boeing 777F.
| Specification | Mammoth 777-200LRMF | Factory-Built Boeing 777F |
|---|---|---|
| Payload Capacity | ~231,000 lb (104,800 kg) | ~227,000 lb (103,000 kg) |
| Range at Max Payload | ~4,800 nm (8,890 km) | ~4,970 nm (9,200 km) |
| Maindeck Cargo Door Width | 163 in (4.14 m) | 146.5 in (3.72 m) |
| Maindeck Pallet Positions | 22 | 22 |
Both aircraft are powered by variants of the GE90 engine family. Mammoth markets its 163-inch-wide cargo door as the widest in commercial freighter operations, allowing for larger and more irregularly shaped cargo.
The critical difference is cost. A new-build Boeing 777F lists at over $350 million before discounts. According to Mammoth vice president of marketing and sales Brian McCarthy, the converted aircraft gets very close to a factory build, without the extra $100 million.
DHL's Fleet Strategy and Orders
DHL Express originally ordered nine converted 777-200LRMFs through Jetran in April 2023, with deliveries initially expected in 2024. Certification delays pushed the first delivery to August 2026. During that period, DHL increased its commitment to 13 aircraft. Four of the 13 are expected to enter service before the end of 2026, with the remaining nine following through 2027.
Jetran's total order book with Mammoth covers more than two dozen 777-200LRMFs. This includes the 13 for DHL and five aircraft committed to Qatar Airways Cargo. Ethiopian Airlines has also been identified by FlightGlobal as a future operator. Mammoth has received more than 40 firm orders across its 777-200LRMF and 777-300ERMF conversion programs combined.
The Role of Converted Freighters
DHL has operated factory-built Boeing 777Fs since the late 2010s. These new-build freighters form the backbone of its long-haul network. The converted 777-200LRMFs serve a different purpose. New-build 777F production slots from Boeing are limited and carry multi-year backlogs.
The conversion program gives DHL access to widebody freighter capacity on a faster timeline and at a lower capital cost. DHL described the Mammoth-converted 777s as part of its fleet modernization and as a bridge toward next-generation freighters like the Boeing 777-8F and Airbus A350F, expected in the late 2020s. The converted aircraft will supplement DHL's existing factory-built 777Fs, adding capacity while replacing older leased 747-400 freighters.
Mammoth's larger 777-300ERMF conversion is nearing certification and will open a pool of over 800 additional airframes for conversion. Brian McCarthy predicts Mammoth will convert the majority of the roughly 40-50 candidate 777-200LR airframes available.
