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Boeing requested an exemption from the 2017 ICAO fuel efficiency rules that would end production of the 777-200LRF freighter in 2027.
The regulations state that certain aircraft may not obtain a Certificate of Airworthiness on or after Jan. 1, 2028, if it exceeds set fuel efficiency limits. The goal of the regulations is to reduce greenhouse gases emitted by civil aircraft, according to AeroNewsJournal. The rules apply only to aircraft that receive their first airworthiness certificate from 2028 onward, not to aircraft already in service, so any 777 currently operating will continue to do so, according to Aerospace Global News.
Boeing is specifically asking for permission to build 35 more Boeing 777Fs. The aircraft exceeds the fuel-efficiency limit, but its successor, the Boeing 777-8F, should be compliant, according to SimplyFlyingNews. The 8F is planned to be certified in 2026 and enter service in 2029, after experiencing multiple delays in its certification process. Some customers believe that it will not enter service until 2030 and the company faces potential order cancellations, according to Leeham News. Boeing claims that the exemption is necessary to avoid a supply gap in the market and keep cargo networks operational. The company aims to obtain FAA approval by May 2026.
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"With the dramatic growth of e-commerce and challenges in the maritime sector, the global air cargo industry continues to experience a capacity shortage in large widebody freighters, raising direct and indirect costs to consumers," said Boeing in its request. "Additional 777Fs are needed after January 1, 2028, to maintain an uninterrupted supply of large freighters to the market prior to the introduction of the 777-8F."