Air cargo: Operators face uncertainty as Boeing halts 777F production

A supplier dispute has halted production of Boeing’s 777 freighter for almost two months, raising concerns over deliveries to major cargo operators.

With dozens of aircraft still on order and the next-generation 777-8 freighter not expected until around 2029, the disruption comes at a critical time for Boeing’s freighter business.

Boeing’s 777 Freighter (777F) production line was halted following the dispute with Florida-based supplier Vaero, according to a Reuters report.

Despite reaching a settlement with Vaero in late September, Boeing had not resumed production as of 23 October, according to three company workers cited by Reuters.

The dispute also affected production of the Boeing 767, including its freighter variant and the KC-46 Pegasus aerial refuelling tanker.

At the centre of the dispute is a fixed trailing-edge rib kit used in the wings of the 777F and 767. Boeing identified Vaero as its sole supplier and alleged in a legal complaint filed in August that the company had stopped delivering the kits.

Without the parts, Boeing could not complete the relevant wing sections, preventing aircraft assembly from progressing at its Everett, Washington, facility.

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According to court filings cited by Reuters, Boeing estimated that the disruption was costing it as much as $6.5 million per day. The manufacturer has reportedly begun efforts to bring production of the component in-house, reducing its dependence on a single external supplier.

The effects have already reached the assembly line. Two partially assembled 777Fs were removed because of the shortage. One was identified as destined for FedEx, although the courier did not respond to a request for comment.

Boeing had delivered 21 777Fs during 2026 by the time of the Reuters report. Some further deliveries may still be possible using aircraft whose wings were assembled before the disruption.

The production halt comes as several major cargo operators await new aircraft. Boeing’s order book at the end of September 2026 listed 38 unfilled orders for the current-generation 777F, although some are associated with Russian operators and may not be deliverable under present circumstances.

Some of the cargo operators said to be awaiting orders include: FedEx Express, Saudia, Emirates, China Airlines, China Southern Cargo, Silk Way West Airlines, Ethiopian Airlines Cargo, etc.