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Value of an A350 freighter pushing close to $200m

A new Airbus A350 freighter delivered next year is expected to have a value of between $197m-$198m, according to aviation advisory firm IBA. In an analysis of the freighter's likely value, the company said that monthly lease rates for the A350F, which conducted its first test flight last month, are expected to reach $1.53-$1.55m. This compares with the only widebody production freighter currently on the market, the Boeing 777F, which is valued at around $170m with monthly lease rates of around $1.35m. "IBA expects the A350F to reach the market at least one to two years ahead of the Boeing 777-8F, giving Airbus an opportunity to establish the aircraft with large-capacity cargo operators before its principal new-generation competitor enters service," the company said. Explaining its value forecast, IBA said the A350F is expected to offer a payload of approximately 111 tonnes, compared with 103 tonnes for the existing Boeing 777F. Meanwhile, the aircraft will share crew, systems and parts commonality with the A350-900 and A350-1000 passenger fleet. The cargo door is another key selling point. Airbus has equipped the aircraft with a 14 ft 1 inch maindeck cargo door - the largest in its class. Jonathan McDonald, Manager - Classic & Cargo Aircraft at IBA, said: "The A350F's first flight marks an important step for Airbus in the large-capacity freighter market. "The strength of the orderbook shows that operators are already willing to consider a new alternative in a segment that has long been dominated by Boeing products. "With a strong value and lease-rate profile, greater payload capacity and commonality with the passenger A350 fleet, the A350F is well positioned to establish itself as a significant part of the next generation of large freighters." Airbus has so far secured 115 firm orders from 14 disclosed customers for the A350F, compared with 89 firm orders from nine disclosed customers for the Boeing 777-8F. A350F customers include Cathay Pacific, Korean Air, Atlas Air and Silk Way West Airlines, several of which currently operate major or exclusively Boeing freighter fleets. "IBA believes the orderbook demonstrates a strong early foothold for Airbus in a large-capacity freighter market historically dominated by Boeing," the company said. Meanwhile, IBA is also expecting demand for widebody freighters to remain positive, supported by sustained "e-commerce demand, the movement of bulky, high-tech and time-sensitive cargo, and continued growth across the Asia-Pacific market". There will also be further A350F order opportunities to emerge as operators plan for the eventual retirement of Boeing 747-400 series freighters.

Boeing's 777F now most widely operated freighter globally

Boeing's 777 freighter is now the most widely operated freighter in the world, according to data supplied by the US aircraft manufacturer. The 777F fleet has surpassed 330 airplanes in service and now carries more air cargo per year than any other type of freighter, said Boeing. Due to its high utilisation on long-haul routes, the 777F fleet provides around 40% of global freighter capacity, the company added. "The Boeing 777 Freighter fleet has overtaken the in-service fleet of 747 freighters of all types to become the most widely operated freighter in the world today," said Boeing. In 2025, the 777F undertook 6,250 flight hours, with an average of more than 17 flight hours per day. Additionally, 80% of freighter flights over 6,000 nmi were flown by 777Fs. Last year, the value of global trade carried by the 777F fleet was estimated to be around $4trn, according to the aircraft manufacturer. The longevity of the 777F was boosted in September when the FAA granted Boeing an emissions exemption for the aircraft model that will enable it to continue selling them beyond the end of 2027. The decision by the FAA means that Boeing, which filed its emissions exemption request in December and had requested that the exemption be approved by 1 May, can sell 35 more 777Fs that will be eligible for a Certificate of Airworthiness. The aircraft manufacturer's order and delivery data for 2026 shows that six 777Fs have been ordered this year. On the deliveries front, Boeing's data shows that 20 of the model have been delivered so far this year. There are also a total of 38 unfilled orders to date. There have now been firm orders for more than 450 777Fs and 777-8Fs combined.

Qatar Cargo signs up with Pelicargo

Qatar Airways Cargo has become the latest carrier to place its capacity on US airfreight procurement and booking platform Pelicargo. Pelicargo said the partnership would provide freight forwarder users of Pelicargo with direct access to Qatar Airways Cargo's global network, real-time capacity and booking capabilities. The platform enables forwarders to quote, book, and manage international shipments from any US origin ZIP code, combining first-mile trucking with airfreight. "As forwarders face increasing pressure to respond faster to customer demands while managing tighter operational timelines, access to reliable global capacity has become increasingly critical," said Pelicargo. "With Qatar Airways Cargo becoming part of the platform, Pelicargo further strengthens its ability to connect forwarders with major international trade lanes through a more centralised and efficient workflow." The integration allows Qatar Airways Cargo to provide its products, services and open offer its global network to customers. Sean Angata, co-founder of Pelicargo, said: "Qatar Airways Cargo operates one of the most strategically connected networks in the world, making it one of the most important partners on our platform. "Today's freight forwarders need speed, visibility, and flexibility when securing capacity across multiple regions. This partnership will make that process even more seamless while further enhancing the overall user experience for our customers." In May, Emirates SkyCargo also placed its capacity on the platform.