FAA grants Boeing waiver to sell 777F freighters past 2028

The Federal Aviation Administration granted a waiver on Thursday to Boeing, permitting the sale of an additional 35 777F freighter aircraft after January 1, 2028, when stricter emissions standards would otherwise restrict their sale. Boeing had requested the approval in December 2025, citing robust customer demand and delays in certifying their next-generation aircraft.

The 777F is the sole large widebody freighter currently under production, with its replacement, the 777-8F, not expected to enter service until around 2029. The FAA acknowledged providing Boeing with flexibility to navigate the uncertainty surrounding the certification timeline of the 777-8F. Without the waiver, Boeing anticipated a production shortfall potentially worth over $15 billion in U.S. exports, as each 777F export adds $440 million to the U.S. trade balance at list price.

The emissions regulations, finalized in February 2024 under the previous administration, are based on international standards to curb carbon emissions from large aircraft operating within U.S. airspace. These rules do not impact aircraft already in service before 2028. Boeing praised the 777F as the most fuel-efficient aircraft for the global freight market and welcomed the FAA's decision to support cargo carriers facing increasing air freight demand.

The company anticipates delivering the first 777-8F approximately two years after the initial delivery of the 777-9, with the 777-9 currently projected for delivery in 2027. In 2024, Congress passed legislation allowing Boeing to continue producing its 767 freighter through 2033, exempting it from the 2028 efficiency rules. The FAA stated that the 35 additional aircraft could expand freighter operations by roughly 2% and increase fuel consumption by about 8% compared to global freighter operations in 2024.