Mind the gap: New freighters are late. Old ones are tiring
The A350F and 777-8F promise leaner, greener freighters, but delays mean 777Fs, conversions and ageing 747s must fly harder for longer.
Airbus and Boeing are both running behind schedule on their next large freighters. Airbus launched the A350F in July 2021 for entry into service in 2025. The aircraft's first test flight took off on September 29, 2026, and Airbus now expects EASA certification in 2027 and first deliveries in the second half of that year. Boeing launched the 777-8F in January 2022 with first delivery planned for 2027. That has slipped to around 2029.
Airbus reported 115 A350F orders at the end of August 2026, led by Atlas Air with 20. Air China Cargo, Etihad Airways, Starlux and lessor AviLease have committed to ten each. Boeing reported 89 firm 777-8F orders in October, including 34 from launch customer Qatar Airways, ten from Cargolux and eight from Ethiopian Airlines.
The 777-8F has the higher maximum structural payload: 118 tonnes against 111 tonnes for the A350F. At comparable loads, Boeing quotes a range of 5,000 nautical miles with 110 tonnes, while Airbus quotes 4,700 nautical miles with 109 tonnes.
John Perdoch, Boeing’s Regional Director for Product Marketing — 777X and Freighters, says the 777-8F combines that payload with 27,056 cubic feet of cargo volume to serve both dense general freight and lighter express shipments. “The composition of cargo is shifting toward higher-value, time-sensitive and technology-intensive products. Air cargo demand is evolving, not just growing,” he says.
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