FLEET - Saudia, DAE ink purchase-leaseback for four B777-200F

Saudia (SV, Jeddah International) has signed a purchase-leaseback agreement with DAE Capital for four new B777-200F freighters following the initial order announced in July. Deliveries are scheduled between October 2026 and May 2027, with the aircraft to be operated under long-term leases. Saudia Cargo already operates four B777-200Fs, supplemented by five wet-leased freighters. The additional aircraft will support network growth and reinforce Saudi Arabia's ambitions as a global logistics hub.

CH Aviation

SPECIAL LIVERY Retrojet c/s - FedEx unveils retrojet

FedEx unveiled a retro-livery on its Boeing B777F-FS2 N884FD (37137) at Memphis (TN). The company has repainted the aircraft to honor the legacy of its founder Frederick W. Smith.

 At the same time of the unveiling, the Memphis-Shelby County Airport Authority celebrated renaming Memphis-International Airport into Memphis-Frederick W. Smith International Airport.

The retro-livery is the same livery the company introduced on its first aircraft back in 1972. It has received the name "Rosie", after one of the granddaughters of Frederick W. Smith.

FEDEX

FLEET - mas (Mexico), which aims to expand the fleet to 8-10 aircraft by 2030

has already begun the re-fleet process for the period beyond that. In the near term, the carrier is eyeing production A350F and B777F, as well as converted B777s

Kenya Airways eyeing B777Fs, E2s - report

Kenya Airways (KQ, Nairobi Jomo Kenyatta) is considering adding two or more B777-200Fs to supplement its cargo fleet, while also talking to Boeing about potentially adding more B737s and Embraer about the E2.

Acting group managing director and CEO George Kamal told Air Transport World that the number and specific variant of the B777 freighter would depend on "what we find in the market," indicating they would be pre-owned or leased aircraft.

In May, Kamal already told ch-aviation that Kenya Airways Cargo would swap a B747-400(BCF) capacity agreement with Terra Avia (T8, Chisinau International) for B767 and B777 capacity to maintain 180 to 200 tons per day capacity.

As previously reported, the airline will not proceed with acquiring B767 freighters, despite earlier consideration, as introducing a new aircraft type would significantly increase costs for training, tools, and maintenance.

Kenya Airways' in-house narrowbody cargo fleet includes two company-owned B737-300(SF)s and two leased B737-800(SF)s.

E2 being considered

Of a fleet of eleven E190s, Kenya Airways has sold four, while two remain in maintenance and five are in active service, according to ch-aviation and ADS-B data.

The airline has long planned to phase out its E190s to address payload and baggage limits on regional routes from Nairobi with its hot-and-high conditions. The aim has always also been to simplify the fleet.

Kamal told ATW that the E2 may be considered as a replacement for the E190. The E2 "looks good. We are not saying that we will acquire them, but we are looking into it positively. Kenya Airways is the only African country with an Embraer [maintenance] centre."

In other fleet developments, as reported previously, Kenya Airways plans to return a B777-300ER leased to Turkish Airlines to its own network on July 17 for deployment on the Nairobi Jomo Kenyatta-London Heathrow route.

Two leased B737-800NGs are due in 2026, with ATW reporting that one will be leased from Aerolíneas Argentinas in November 2026.

Plans to lease six B737-8s have been delayed to 2027 due to part and engine shortages and liquidity constraints.

In total, the current fleet includes nine B737-800s, nine B787-8s (of which three remain AOG due to engine supply chain delays), eleven E190s, and the four B737 freighters, according to ADS-B data.

CH Aviation - Image: Flyingphotos AI

FLEET - Saudia orders additional B777Fs

Saudia announced it has signed a contract with Boeing for additional B777Fs. In total, the airline has ordered four more aircraft which are scheduled to be delivered before the end of the year.

The four Triple Sevens joins Saudia Cargo's fleet of four B777Fs, two Airbus A330-300P2Fs (leased from ASL Airlines Ireland), and four B747-400Fs (leased from Air Atlanta Europe).

Image: Saudia.

China Cargo / B777-200F / B-228S - (Fresh flash c_s)

Ton Jochems
 

ROUTES - Emirates SkyCargo maps new horizons with freighter service to Almaty

Emirates SkyCargo, the freight division of Emirates, has announced that it will be launching dedicated weekly freighter flights on its Boeing 777F aircraft to Almaty International Airport, Kazakhstan, commencing 16 June 2026. Almaty is Emirates SkyCargo’s first destination in Central Asia and the new weekly cargo flights from Dubai will help open a new trade corridor integrating the region into the carrier’s global network.

Almaty is Kazakhstan’s largest city and a growing commercial and logistics hub serving as an important economic and trade gateway Central Asia. Emirates SkyCargo’s weekly freighter service on Tuesdays will provide over 100 tonnes of cargo capacity every week for the seamless movement of key commodities including electronics, perishables, machinery and other consumer goods between Almaty and the rest of the world through Dubai.

Badr Abbas, Emirates SkyCargo’s Divisional Senior Vice President said: “Emirates SkyCargo’s weekly freighter service to Almaty is in line with our role as a global trade facilitator and is an important step in expanding our network and connectivity to Central Asia, a region that is experiencing dynamic growth. Our flights will provide new opportunities for businesses in Almaty and the surrounding region to scale their international operations while allowing our global customers convenient and rapid wide-body cargo connectivity to a strategic marketplace. The expansion into Almaty supports our long-term growth strategy and D33 Dubai Economic Agenda objectives, accelerating foreign trade and Dubai's standing as a global logistics hub.”

In line with growing global demand, Emirates SkyCargo is strategically expanding its freighter fleet and global network. The airline has taken delivery of four new Boeing 777 freighters since March 2026, with delivery of six more freighters lined up for the rest of the year taking Emirates freighter fleet to 22 aircraft by December 2026. Emirates SkyCargo offers scalable and flexible cargo capacity solutions for its global customers. In addition to dedicated freighter flights, the carrier also offers high frequency bellyhold cargo capacity on Emirates’ fleet of passenger aircraft operating to destinations across six continents.

ROUTES / FLEET - National commences Boeing B777F services

Photo: National

National commences revenue 777F services
Carrier has another entering service June 5 plus 2 more on order
The new freighter (70547) departed New York (JFK) en route to Glasgow (PIK)

The carrier expects its second 777F (70548), which it received from Boeing last month, to enter commercial service June 5, it said.

The 777Fs are the first large-widebody twinjet freighters for National, which also operates three production 747-400Fs and six 747-400BCFs.

 

FLEET / ROUTES - Emirates SkyCargo (UAE) has launched a weekly freighter service from Dubai to Toronto Pearson via Amsterdam.

Ton Jochems -A6-EFO-B777-200F- AMS

The carrier has recently taken delivery of four new B777Fs since March 2026 and will expand its fleet with a further six B777F aircraft in 2026.

Central Air / B-2082 / B777-200F - (Yun Express c/s)

 Ton Jochems - BRU

FLEET - National Airlines: First B777-F Performs Test Flight

National Airlines - N20144 - Boeing 777-F - Serial #: 70547 

Photo: Nick Sheeder

The aircraft is the first of four B777 freighters ordered by the company.

After a series of test flights and evaluations, the aircraft is on track to enter commercial service in May 2026.
The B777F is among the world's most advanced and efficient long-range freighters, offering an exceptional cargo capacity of over 100 tons, an extended range of over 9,000 km, twin-engine performance with low fuel consumption, and state-of-the-art avionics and flight systems, ensuring superior operational safety and precision.

The addition of the B777F begins a new chapter in the modernization of National Airlines' fleet, improving both efficiency and sustainability. The new aircraft complements the existing fleet of nine Boeing 747-400 Freighters and a passenger fleet comprised of Airbus A330-300 and A330-200 aircraft.

National

FLEET - One Air / B777-200F / G-ONEG

Ton Jochems
 

FLEET - Kenya Airways eyes first B767F in 1Q26, B777Fs next Suppor

Kenya Airways (KQ, Nairobi Jomo Kenyatta) is planning to add its first B767 freighter by the end of the first quarter, cargo director Fitsum Abadi Gebrehawaria told Air Cargo News. The airline plans to eventually transition to B777 freighters by the end of the decade.
"We may transition with B767-300 but with our strategy between now and 2030, we are planning to have three B777Fs," Abadi said.
The second B767 freighter is tentatively scheduled for delivery later in 2026. The airline will deploy its maiden widebody freighters mainly to Asia. Abadi, who used to be managing director for cargo at rival Ethiopian Airlines, identified Guangzhou and Hong Kong International as potential destinations.
The B767s will most likely require a technical stop on these services. The airline would have preferred to go directly for the B777Fs, which have both more payload and more range, but had to defer these plans given the limited availability of aircraft on the market.
Kenya Airways has long been planning to grow its in-house cargo capacity. Then-CEO Allan Kilavuka told ch-aviation in October 2025 that the airline was hoping to more than double its cargo revenues in the next five years. The addition of widebody freighters remains a key part of this strategy, although Kilavuka said that Kenya Airways would also look for more narrowbody freighters.
Currently, the airline's dedicated freighter fleet comprises two B737-300(SF)s and two B737-800(SF)s. In 2024, the last full year for which data is available, the carrier recorded USD119.2 million in cargo revenues, accounting for 10.4% of total revenues. Abadi said that the short-term goal was to increase the contribution of cargo to Kenya Airways' revenues to 20%.
The airline's freighter business pales in comparison to that of regional rival Ethiopian Airlines, which currently operates one B737-800(BCF), three B737-800(SF)s, two (inactive) B767-300ER(BDSF)s, two B767-300Fs, and twelve B777-200Fs.

CH Aviation / Photo: Kenya

FLEET -Central Airlines adds Boeing 777F

Haikou-based Central now operates six 777Fs

Chinese cargo airline Central Airlines has added a Boeing 777 freighter to its fleet to add to its existing 11 aircraft.

The airline now has two 737-300 passenger to freighter (P2F) aircraft, four 737-800P2Fs aircraft and six 777Fs.

Central Airlines began operating 777 freighter flights from Tianjin (TSN) China to East Midlands Airport (EMA) in the UK on behalf of Chinese logistics express firm YunExpress. . Central operates two 777Fs in total for YunExpress.

Last year, Central Airlines began operating two 777Fs on behalf of DHL Express
Photo: Ton Jochems -BRU

ROUTES - Central Airlines offers more than 40 domestic and international cargo routes.

Beijing Capital Airlines launches Glasgow-Zhengzhou freighter service

The Hainan Airlines Group carrier is the third carrier in recent months to launch freighter services at Glasgow Prestwick Airport

Chinese carrier Beijing Capital Airlines has launched a regular freighter service linking Glasgow Prestwick Airport (PIK) with Zhengzhou Xinzheng International Airport (CGO).

The first flight, operated by an Airbus A330-200 passenger to freighter (P2F) service, arrived at PIK on Thursday 16 October, marking the start of a four-times-weekly schedule.

Each flight will carry e-commerce goods and general cargo inbound to the UK and premium produce including Scottish salmon and whisky along with other high value goods outbound to China.

Beijing Capital Airlines, a member of Hainan Airlines Group, is the third cargo airline to begin services to PIK in the last six months.

In May, China Southern Air Logistics began scheduled cargo flights to the airport from Guangzhou, with four flights a week initially and plans to increase to a daily service.

The following month, Air China Cargo began a three-times-a-week scheduled freighter service from Guangzhou and also had plans to increase the frequency of the service.

FLEET - China's Suparna Airlines takes first B777-200F

Photo:jf lin
B-227 / UB777-F / Suparna Airlines

Suparna Airlines (Y8, Shanghai Hongqiao) has taken delivery of the first of two B777-200Fs, B-227U (msn 70288), Boeing announced via its official WeChat account on September 24.
ADS-B data shows that following the official handover of the aircraft in the United States, B-227U ferried directly from the Everett facility to Nanjing under Suparna's code. The freighter is fitted with a pair of General Electric GE90-110BL engines.
ch-aviation previously reported about the imminent delivery of the first B777 freighter, with the second unit expected by year-end. The Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) recently audited the airline to confirm its readiness to add the new type.
The new B777-200F aircraft will join the carrier's B747-400(BDSF) and B747-400ERF, which are 34.2 and 18.3 years old, respectively. Formerly known as Yangtze River Airlines, Suparna Airlines plans to operate a fleet of up to ten B777 freighters and issued tenders for B777 passenger-to-freighter converted aircraft in 2024.
Aside from its cargo fleet, the carrier also operates ten B737-800s and has commitments for thirty C919s.
Suparna Airlines is the sixth B777-200F operator in China, joining Air China Cargo, Central Airlines, China Cargo Airlines, China Postal Airlines, and China Southern Air Cargo.

CH Aviation

ORDER / US’s Atlas Air warns of freighter shortage to 2040

Cargo airlines will face a shortage of widebody freighter capacity for the next decade and beyond, according to Atlas Air's chief executive officer Michael Steen.
As reported by Air Cargo News, Steen believes the growth of widebody freighter capacity will struggle to keep pace with demand growth, as airlines need to retire older aircraft while there is a lack of new freighters entering the market.
“So, the global freighter fleet is now ageing and we are seeing a situation here that we haven’t seen before, where aircraft are retiring faster than they are being replenished,” Steen, who has been warning about the impending shortages for years, said.
Moreover, with Boeing ending the production of the B777-200F in 2027, and deliveries of the next generation B777-8F and A350F not starting until late 2027 or early 2028, barring any production timeline delays, “this means you have at least one calendar year with zero new freighters,” said Steen.
“When you look at all this and put it together, we are going to be capacity-constrained well towards the 2040s, and there is structurally no way around it from a capacity perspective,” Steen concluded.
Cargo airlines will face a shortage of widebody freighter capacity for the next decade and beyond, according to Atlas Air's chief executive officer Michael Steen.
As reported by Air Cargo News, Steen believes the growth of widebody freighter capacity will struggle to keep pace with demand growth, as airlines need to retire older aircraft while there is a lack of new freighters entering the market.
“So, the global freighter fleet is now ageing and we are seeing a situation here that we haven’t seen before, where aircraft are retiring faster than they are being replenished,” Steen, who has been warning about the impending shortages for years, said.

Moreover, with Boeing ending the production of the B777-200F in 2027, and deliveries of the next generation B777-8F and A350F not starting until late 2027 or early 2028, barring any production timeline delays, “this means you have at least one calendar year with zero new freighters,” said Steen.

“When you look at all this and put it together, we are going to be capacity-constrained well towards the 2040s, and there is structurally no way around it from a capacity perspective,” Steen concluded.

CH Aviation

Photo: Marco Moutinho - Madrid

 

SPECIAL LIVERY - CHINA CARGO / B777-F / B-220F - China Eastern Cold Chain sticker

K.C.Wong