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MSC Air Cargo expects first 777-8F delivery in 2035

MSC Air Cargo predicts it will receive the first Boeing 777-8 freighter from its order of seven of the type in 2035. The Italy-headquartered cargo carrier purchased five of Boeing's new generation 777-8Fs in December 2025. The order was confirmed in July this year and all five aircraft will be added to the Italian Air Operator Certificate (AOC). Speaking exclusively to Air Cargo News, Jayesh Ratada, head of commercial at MSC Air Cargo said that the anticipated nine-year wait for the 777-8F is in line with the current development of the new generation freighter. "Considering the current delivery timelines of the entire 777X programme, we are presuming the deliveries to happen sometime in 2035, or maybe if we are lucky, a couple of years earlier than 2035," suggests Ratada. In the meantime, as MSC Air Cargo continues to expand, it wouldn't be unexpected for the airline to seek out additional capacity to meet continued demand. Especially if AI-related cargo, some of which requires widebody main deck capacity specifically, continues to grow. However, Ratada says MSC has not secured the lease or purchase of any additional aircraft other than the 777-8Fs. "We are constantly exploring other production and conversion options available in the market. But at this point in time, we have not committed to any additional capacity." In a market where there is a growing sense of urgency around the topic of widebody freighter capacity shortages due to retirements and limited conversion feedstock, the new generation 777-8F and Airbus A350F have generated substantial interest. But due to production delays and orders already made, carriers that have recently placed orders for either model face a long wait before delivery. Boeing now has 89 777-8Fs on order from the programme and will not start delivering orders until 2028. Boeing started production on the 777-8F in July 2025. The 777-8F was originally anticipated to come to market in 2027, but in October 2024, Boeing announced it would delay launch until 2028. Meanwhile, Airbus has now secured orders for 115 A350Fs. The maiden flight of the A350F MSN700 prototype took place from Toulouse, France at the end of September. Following this, Airbus embarked on a nine-month test and certification campaign for the A350F. The second aircraft is currently in the final assembly line cycle and is due to take off on its first flight this year. But Airbus has pushed back the commercial launch of the A350F twice before. In May 2023, the company adjusted the entry into service date for the A350F from the end of 2025 to the first quarter of 2026. Then in February 2025, Airbus pushed back the entry-into-service date of the A350F to the second half of 2027.

FedEx boosts Madrid airside capacity for peak season

FedEx Express has completed the modernisation of its second airside facility at Adolfo Suárez Madrid-Barajas Airport to increase operational capacity and streamline customs procedures as peak season air cargo demand continues. The express giant said the modernisation of the facility adds 1,550 sq m of airside operational warehouse space and 913 sq m dedicated to technical and administrative offices. The refurbished facility adds to the existing FedEx airside capacity at the airport. Together, they bring the company's total airside operational footprint in Madrid to more than 4,500 sq m. This new facility supports Madrid's strategic role as a primary gateway and global transit hub within the company's European and intercontinental network, said FedEx. The facility incorporates four dedicated trailer docks, a castor deck roller platform capable of handling and manoeuvring up to 14 ULDs, and a high-density storage area with secure space for 5,700 pieces. The facility is also equipped with automated sorting systems, Check-Weight-Cube dimensioning and weighing equipment, and X-ray screening systems for shipment inspection. In addition, it features a Temporary Bonded Warehouse (ADT) and an authorised customs area. FedEx explained that the operational model of the new facility is designed to meet the demands of express and high-value cargo transportation and will help centralise Express and Economy shipping flows to and from the Canary Islands, simplifying customs formalities and shortening transit times. Furthermore, FedEx said the facility expands consolidation capacity for European Union Economy shipments bound for key destinations across Latin America and the United States. The facility also streamlines the comprehensive handling of International Priority Freight (IPF) shipments -- priority cargo and heavyweight goods -- which require direct ramp connectivity and priority customs processing, while providing additional surge capacity to accommodate seasonal volume peaks or tailored projects for strategic customers. "This expansion in Madrid-Barajas represents a critical milestone in strengthening our logistics infrastructure across the Iberian Peninsula," said María José Palacios, senior manager hubs & gateways Iberia, FedEx. "By consolidating core air cargo, transit, and customs capabilities at one of Southern Europe's most vital hubs, we deliver the resilience, speed, and scalability that Spanish businesses demand. "Amid significant growth in cross-border trade and on the eve of the peak shipping season, this modernised facility streamlines cross-border flows and shortens transit times, ensuring our customers connect better with global markets."

CTS: Q3 in numbers

What do the numbers tell us about the global container shipping market in Q3 2026? In this special episode of The Loadstar Podcast, we team up with Container Trades Statistics (CTS) CEO Nigel Pusey to unpack the latest data and explore the forces shaping global trade. Joined by The Loadstar's managing editor Gavin van Marle, we examine another quarter of record-breaking container volumes, the continued strength of Far East exports, and the changing dynamics across the transpacific and secondary markets, including South America and Sub-Saharan Africa. We also explore the growing impact of port congestion, as typhoons and operational disruption put further pressure on already stretched supply chains, plus the contrasting developments in the Middle East with increasing returns to Red Sea transits and continued uncertainty around the Strait of Hormuz. Finally, we revisit the predictions made in our Q2 episode to see how they measured up, before asking Nigel and Gavin to look ahead and share their forecasts for the coming months. From trade volumes and pricing trends to geopolitical disruption and shifting trade lanes, we put the Q3 container shipping market under the microscope.