Top 10 widebody freighter stories of 2023

The retirement of older widebody freighters accelerated in 2023 as operators began to downsize their fleets to match capacity with demand. While the industry continues its transition from tri- and quad-engine aircraft to twins, new production and converted widebody freighter programs have also gained momentum. Here are the ten most-read stories reported by Cargo Facts in 2023 on widebody freighters. Click on each headline to link to the full story. 1. Boeing logs first 777F order of year [caption id="attachment_56866652" align="alignright" width="360"] Boeing received orders for eight 777Fs from January through November 2023. (Courtesy/Boeing)[/caption] Boeing received its first 777F order for 2023 when an unidentified customer ordered one unit in April 2023. As of Nov. 30, the planemaker had logged only seven more 777Fs to its order backlog. In comparison, Boeing received orders for nineteen 777Fs from five different customers in the first quarter of 2022 alone. 2. Air Incheon to take five 777-300ER conversions Air Incheon has only operated narrowbodies since 2019 when it removed its 767-300BDSF. The South Korean cargo airline also moved to a 737-800SF-only fleet in 2021 but is planning a return to widebodies with the introduction of 777-300ER conversions. 3. World’s youngest A330P2F nears redelivery to become Amazon’s first Airbus [caption id="attachment_56866650" align="alignright" width="360"] Hawaiian began flying the first A330 for Amazon in October 2023. (Courtesy/Cincinnati Northern Kentucky International Airport)[/caption] Amazon took delivery of the youngest A330P2F conversion to date in mid-2023 and Hawaiian Airlines began operating the aircraft on a CMI basis for the e-commerce giant in October. The 2018-vintage A330-300 (1902) was ferried to Shanghai Pudong (PVG) in November 2022 ahead of its conversion and is the first of ten A330P2Fs Amazon will dry lease from Seattle-based Altavair. 4. Western Global reportedly cancels Boeing 777F order Western Global reportedly halted its fleet growth plans in May 2023 when a Moody’s Investors Service credit report on the carrier’s debt indicated that Western Global had canceled its order with Boeing for two 777Fs. When the airline emerged from Chapter 11 bankruptcy in November 2023, it told Cargo Facts that it would not acquire the two 777Fs from Boeing under the previous terms and conditions, although the two 777Fs still appeared on Boeing’s backlog as of Nov. 30. 5. UPS begins MD-11F retirement [caption id="attachment_56866649" align="alignright" width="360"] UPS had a fleet of forty-two MD-11Fs. (Courtesy/UPS)[/caption] UPS has begun replacing its MD-11Fs with new medium-widebody freighters as part of its fleet renewal plan. The 1997-vintage unit 48634 (ex-Swiss) was the first tri-engine freighter removed from service on Jan. 2, 2023, and was ferried from Louisville (SDF) to Victorville (VCV). Five more MD-11Fs followed throughout the year. UPS revealed plans to invest $745 million in its aircraft fleet in 2023 and take delivery of seven 767-300Fs, Chief Financial Officer Brian Newman told analysts during a Q4 2022 earnings call. Boeing ended up delivering six 767s to UPS in 2023. 6. FedEx retires 18 freighters FedEx Express launched its Drive initiative in 2023 to reduce costs as the demand for air cargo continued to dwindle. The express company retired eighteen aircraft in the first quarter and revealed plans to retire twenty-nine more aircraft by June 2024. FedEx retired its MD-10-30F fleet in 2022 and expects to remove its MD-11Fs from service by 2028. 7. DHL to pick A350F or 777-8F to meet ESG targets The three major express integrators usually occupy a sizable portion of any new freighter program’s order book, but until recently they had remained mostly quiet on the next generation of large widebodies. DHL intends to order either the A350F or 777-8F as part of its goal to be net zero by 2050, Malcolm Macbeth, senior vice president of global air fleet management, said at Cargo Facts Symposium 2023. 8. IAI commences 777-300ERSF flight test campaign amid conflict [caption id="attachment_56866651" align="alignright" width="360"] IAI expects to certify the Big Twin this year. (Photo/Cargo Facts)[/caption] IAI began the flight test campaign for its 777-300ERSF program in October, just as the Israel-Hamas war broke out. The prototype aircraft (32789, ex-Emirates), which had not flown since its initial shake-down flight in March, was joined by the second unit (32785, ex-Emirates), which carried out its first post-conversion flight in November and visited the Dubai Airshow that month. 9. DHL to add 777-200LR conversions Before DHL orders and receives its new A350Fs or 777-8Fs, it will continue to add large-widebody capacity by converting 777-200LRs with Mammoth Freighters. The express company expects to add nine 777-200LRMFs to its fleet by 2027, including six ex-Delta aircraft. 10. A350F sales overtake A330-200F with mystery order Airbus’ order in March for four A350Fs was significant not only because the customer was not identified, but also because it pushed the new freighter program past the total number of A330-200Fs Airbus built. With production of the prototype now underway, Airbus picked up two more orders from major carriers Cathay Pacific and Turkish Airlines before the end of 2023, bringing the A350F orderbook to fifty units . Cargo Facts EMEA 2024, the essential event for stakeholders in Europe, the Middle East and Africa, will take place Feb. 5-7 in Amsterdam. Learn more and register now.

Top 10 widebody freighter stories of 2023

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