MSC Air Cargo has been confirmed as the latest carrier to order the Boeing 777-8F next-generation freighter with the aircraft due to start delivery in the early 2030s.
Announced at the Farnborough International Airshow, the airline announced it would order five of the aircraft as part of its “ambitious” growth strategy.
The order had appeared on Boeing’s orderbook report in December as coming from an unidentified customer.
“The addition of five 777-8 Freighters will strengthen its long-haul capacity and support the continued development of its network in the decade ahead,” the airline said in a press release.
MSC Air Cargo launched operations in 2022 and since then has expanded its fleet to seven Boeing 777-200 Freighters serving strategic gateways across Europe, Asia and the Americas.
Jannie Davel, chief executive of MSC Air Cargo, said: “With this order, we are investing in the long-term future of MSC Air Cargo and in the customers we serve.
“The 777-8 Freighter gives us the efficiency, range and capacity to serve our customers reliably for years to come, while advancing our commitment to more sustainable operations. It is the right aircraft for the next stage of our growth.”
The airline added that the order also signals its confidence in long-haul demand well into the next decade, and its
intent to keep investing in capacity.
Brad McMullen, Boeing senior vice president of commercial sales and marketing, said: “With the order of five new, large widebody freighter aircraft, MSC Air Cargo is investing in its future and will further enhance the capability and reach of its global air network.
“The 777-8F is the most efficient aircraft in its class and will connect MSC Air Cargo’s hubs to key international markets.”
The order from MSC is the second announced for the freighter in recent weeks.
In late June, China Southern Air Cargo became the first Chinese carrier to order the model when it announced a deal for five of the aircraft, with options to purchase three more.
The China Southern order was the first for the 777-8F from a named customer since November 2025, when China Airlines confirmed to Air Cargo News that it would expand its order for 777-8F aircraft by four units to a total of eight.
According to the latest order and delivery update from Boeing and Airbus, the Airbus A350F has more orders than the Boeing 777-8F, with a total of 107 confirmed orders compared with 81 for Boeing. However, Boeing’s latest update lists the MSC order as having come from an unidentified customer.
MSC Air Cargo is the third Europe-based air cargo operator to order the airplane.
Meanwhile, Cargolux recently announced the purchase of four Boeing 747 freighters from China Southern in part because of delays to the Boeing 777-8F programme.
The exact timeline of entry into service of the 777-8F depends on Boeing gaining certification for the 777-9 model, which will be the first of the 777X family to enter service and open the way for other models in the family to follow suit.
Boeing had initially hoped to start delivering the aircraft to customers in 2027 but this has now been officially pushed back into 2028.
