Boeing expects the global freighter fleet to pass 4,000 airplanes by 2045

Boeing expects the world's freighter fleet to grow from 2,395 airplanes in 2025 to 4,010 by 2045. That is a rise of 67 percent. The forecast came out this week at the TIACA Air Cargo Forum in Miami.

Boeing says air cargo traffic will double over the next 20 years. 2025 was a record year, with traffic up nearly 5 percent from 2024. Trade flows linked to Asia are set to lead the growth and make up about 60 percent of the market.

What operators will need

• 2,930 new and converted freighters over 20 years.
• About 55 percent of them will add capacity. About 45 percent will replace older, less efficient airplanes.
• Two-thirds will be passenger airplanes converted to freighters. The rest will be new-build freighters.

Dedicated freighters should carry more than half of all air cargo in the long run. Integrators, the express and time-definite carriers, are expected to reach nearly 25 percent of global traffic by 2045.

Darren Hulst, Boeing's vice president of commercial marketing, said dedicated freighters "will remain essential to global commerce."

Why it matters for fleet managers

A bigger fleet means more airplanes to maintain, track and plan for. Many of the new freighters will be converted from passenger jets. That adds conversion work, extra checks and spare parts demand. Operators and fleet managers will want partners who can handle that load.

Find fleet and cargo partners on TFE

Browse aircraft management and fleet companies and air cargo companies on The Flying Engineer. For the trade show side, read about air cargo Europe 2027 in Munich.

Source: Payload Asia, Boeing: Global freighter fleet to exceed 4,000 airplanes as air cargo traffic doubles by 2045