Dubai Aerospace Enterprise has converted five of 15 Boeing 747-8 freighters it has on order to the smaller 777 freighter.

According to its weekly order update, DAE now holds orders for 10 747-8F aircraft. Prior to the conversion DAE had eight 777F orders, with three aircraft delivered. The outstanding 777F order has now risen to 10.

Boeing said the conversion brings DAE's total unfilled aircraft order to 20, split evenly between 747-8F and 777 aircraft.

The conversion also places the 747-8 family in the net negative for orders in 2011, with an overall reduction in the backlog of one aircraft.

Boeing has also added two additional 777 aircraft from an unidentified customer, bringing the 2011 gross order total to 134 of the twin-engine aircraft, with two recorded cancellations.

Boeing has delivered four 747-8Fs to three customers -- Cargolux, Cathay Pacific Cargo and Atlas Air.

(Jon Ostrower - FlightGlobal News)