As the market leader in freighter airplanes, Boeing provides more than 90 percent of the worldwide freighter capacity. From vaccines to electronics to fresh food and more, freighters allow for the efficient transport of high-value, time-critical goods around the world.
The new newest member of the Boeing 777X family, the 777-8 Freighter will be the world’s largest and most capable twin engine freighter, with the highest payload and lowest operating cost per tonne of any large freighter and 30 percent better fuel efficiency and emissions than the airplanes it will replace.
Boeing launched the 777-8 Freighter in January 2022 with an order of up to 50 from Qatar Airways, the largest freighter commitment by value in Boeing history. Today, the 777-8 Freighter has 59 firm orders from world-class operators, including ANA, Cargolux, Lufthansa, Qatar Airways and Silk Way West. Production Fast Facts
• Spar assembly is the traditional start of production for Boeing airplane models. And July 21, 2025, marks the start of production for the first Boeing 777-8 Freighter, with Boeing teammates drilling the first hole in the first wing spar.
• Spars are the backbone of a wing, serving as critical support structure. Each wing has two spars – one in the front, and one in in the rear.
• Boeing Everett teammates at our Composite Wing Center make the spars, stringers and skin panels for all models of the 777X family.
• For the 777-8 Freighter, the spars are 108-foot composite beams. Teammates guide machines to apply layers of carbon fiber tape onto large tooling to form the shape of the spar, which is then prepped and hardened through pressure and heat in an autoclave.
• The total length of carbon fiber required to make a set of 777X spars is 392 miles (630 km).
When ready, teammates transport the spars elsewhere onsite for finishing work before moving them to our main Everett factory. There, teammates assemble the spars, stringers, panels and other components to form the wings for all 777X models.
777-8 Freighter Capabilities The new 777-8 Freighter offers the highest payload and the lowest operating cost per tonne of any large freighter, with 30 percent less fuel use and emissions than the airplanes it will replace.
The 777-8 Freighter also can integrate seamlessly with the 777 Freighter, 747-400 Freighter and 747-8 Freighter, providing our customers with the greatest profit potential and network flexibility. Operators can use the same containers and pallets on the 777 Freighter and 777-8 Freighter. Operators of 747 freighters can use the same pallets with different contouring. Fullheight containers used on the 777 Freighter and 777-8 Freighter will fit side by side on any 747 freighter. The flight deck of the 777X family is designed with pilots in mind, with the latest technologies to increase situational awareness, efficiency and connectivity.
Market
The 2025 Boeing Commercial Market Outlook projects a 67 percent increase in the global freighter fleet by 2044, including approximately 885 large widebody freighters such as the new 777-8 Freighter and 777 Freighter. Many operators will be looking to replace aging 747-400 Freighters later this decade. With nearly identical payload and range capabilities, 30% better fuel efficiency and emissions, 25% better operating costs per tonne and a 60% smaller noise footprint, the 777-8 Freighter will be the ideal choice. The airplane also will provide additional lift across the growing air cargo sector. Lower-density express carriers will value its superior volume, and its superior payload will benefit higher-density, general market carriers.
