Qatar Airways Cargo expects a delay in receiving its first Mammoth Freighters 777-200LRMF aircraft due to the ongoing US government shutdown, reported London's Air Cargo News.

The Doha-based airline had planned to receive the first two of five converted freighters this quarter, having opted for the Mammoth 777-200LRMFs as a stopgap amid delays to its Boeing 777-8F orders.

Mark Drusch, chief cargo officer at Qatar Airways, said the US Federal Aviation Administration's certification process has slowed, pushing expected delivery of the first aircraft to January.

Mr Drusch noted the shutdown, in place since 1 October, could affect the timeline for all five aircraft, though he stressed the delay is likely to be months, not years.

Mammoth Freighters vice president Brian McCarthy said the FAA is now actively working on the programme and a promising timeline could still allow delivery before year-end.

Final FAA-witnessed test flights are scheduled for 20-23 November, after which the aircraft will enter type inspection authorisation status ahead of final certification.

Qatar Airways Cargo was named launch customer for the Mammoth conversion programme in May, signing for five aircraft via Texas-based lessor Jetran.

The airline had ordered 34 Boeing 777-8Fs in 2022, with options for 16 more, but the freighter's launch has been postponed to 2028 at the earliest.