Boeing 777F and Airbus A350F emerge as top replacements for retiring Boeing 747 cargo fleet

As airlines modernize their fleets and seek greater efficiency and lower operating costs, they are replacing aging Boeing 747 freighters with newer models. The main replacement within Boeing’s lineup is the twin-engine Boeing 777F. Since its introduction in February 2009 by Air France Cargo, more than 250 units have been delivered to over two dozen operators worldwide—including FedEx Express (the largest operator), Qatar Airways Cargo, Emirates SkyCargo, Lufthansa Cargo, Ethiopian Cargo, China Southern Cargo—and others.

The Boeing 777F offers similar payload capacity to the older four-engine Boeing 747-400F but consumes about thirty percent less fuel. This significant improvement in fuel efficiency translates into substantial cost savings for operators.

Airbus has also developed alternatives to replace retiring Boeing 747s in cargo service. The Airbus A330-200F is already in use as a converted freighter model. The upcoming Airbus A350F represents Airbus’s latest entry into this market segment; it was formally launched at the Dubai Airshow in 2021 and is expected to enter service by 2027. The A350F promises improved fuel burn rates and emissions compared to both older quadjets like the Boeing 747-400F and current twinjets like the Boeing 777F.

Originally scheduled for delivery to Air Lease Corporation—who later canceled their order—the first A350Fs will now go to CMA CGM Air Cargo as launch operator. Other customers include Air France-KLM Cargo, Cathay Cargo, Etihad Cargo, STARLUX Airlines, and Silk Way West Airlines.

A key reason behind this shift away from four-engine jets is cost: maintaining older quadjets incurs higher fuel consumption and maintenance expenses compared to modern twin-engine freighters like the Boeing 777F or Airbus A350F. Operators are also motivated by commonality—newer models share systems or cockpits with existing passenger fleets—which helps reduce pilot training requirements and simplifies maintenance logistics.

With most passenger variants of the Boeing 747 already retired from service (the last delivery took place on January 31st, 2023), freight carriers are accelerating efforts to transition toward more efficient next-generation widebody freighters that better fit evolving operational needs.