Boeing Seeks FAA Waiver to Deliver 35 777F Freighters Before 2028 Deadline.

December 20, 2025 at 06:57 AM•2 min read

Boeing is seeking a US FAA waiver to sell 35 777F freighters due to strong customer demand and delays in the 777-8F program.

Key Points

1Boeing is requesting a US FAA waiver to sell 35 additional 777F freighters, which do not meet emissions standards set to take effect in 2028.
2The waiver is necessary because the compliant next-generation 777-8F is not expected to enter service until after the new environmental rules are enforced.
3Boeing argues that failure to grant the exemption could result in the loss of over $15 billion in U.S. export value, as the 777F is crucial for air cargo exports.
4The manufacturer aims to secure FAA approval for the exemption by May 1, fulfilling immediate customer demand for large widebody cargo aircraft.

Boeing has formally requested an exemption from the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to allow the delivery of 35 additional 777F freighters. This move is driven by robust customer demand for cargo capacity and anticipated delays in the certification timeline for its next-generation aircraft, the 777-8 Freighter.

The core issue stems from new international emissions regulations adopted by the FAA in February 2024, which are scheduled to take effect in 2028. Boeing noted that the 777-8F, designed to comply with these new limits, will not be ready until after the 2028 deadline. The company projects the first 777-8F delivery roughly two years after the initial 777-9 delivery, which is currently scheduled for 2027. Boeing is pushing to obtain FAA approval for the waiver by May 1 to ensure it can meet immediate global demand for large cargo aircraft.

Boeing emphasized the critical role of large widebody freighters in the global supply chain and U.S. trade balance. The manufacturer stated that without the exemption, more than $15 billion worth of U.S. export value could be lost, noting that each 777F exported contributes $440 million (at catalog value) to a positive trade balance. The company highlighted that the 777F is currently the only large widebody freighter in production and remains the most fuel-efficient aircraft available for the global freight market, reinforcing the need for the production bridge until the 777-8F enters service. This request follows a precedent set last year when Congress passed legislation exempting the 767 freighter from the same 2028 efficiency rules through 2033.