Boeing Everett Factory - 747, 777 and 787 aircraft under construction - 061522 777 freighters are seen in various stages of assembly at Boeingís Everett Production Facility Wednesday, June 15, 2022 in Everett, Wash. 220679

Freight boom and delays accelerate Boeing’s 777 converted freighter plan

Need for 777s today amid 787 & 777X delays gives Boeing-converted 777-300ER a big opening to join an already-crowded field.

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Release Date
June 20, 2022
Freight boom and delays accelerate Boeing’s 777 converted freighter plan
Boeing has significantly accelerated planning for the long-considered launch of a converted freighter version of its stalwart 777-300ER passenger plane, as it juggles the combination of surging demand for pandemic recovery twin-aisles and delivery delays to its 777X and 787s.

One senior industry executive told The Air Current that the project is “under serious evaluation” and there was a chance a launch could come as early as the Farnborough Air Show in July, but cautioned Boeing is “under a lot of pressure from all sides” and kicking off its second large freighter program (after the 777X freighter) may slip beyond the industry gathering.

Related: Boeing preps 777X for slip deep into 2024, as it triages 787 & 737 Max 10

“We recognize the demand for a 777 converted freighter option,” Boeing said in a statement to The Air Current. “We are studying options and anticipate communicating our next steps to customers later this year.” 

While a converted 777-300ER may ultimately ride the wave of high-volume e-commerce and rising ocean freight costs into the latter part of the decade, launching in 2022 is about far more than just pandemic cargo dynamics.

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