On September 16, 2026, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) granted Boeing a waiver from future fuel-efficiency regulations. This exemption allows the planemaker to obtain airworthiness certificates for up to 35 newly built 777F freighters from January 1, 2028, through January 1, 2031.
Under the FAA's 2024 ruling, aircraft built after 2028 must adopt enhanced fuel-efficiency technologies. Boeing petitioned for the waiver because its replacement model, the 777-8F, is not projected to enter service until approximately 2029, making the exemption critical to avoiding market supply gaps.
Previously, on September 2, 2026, Ethiopian Airlines was reported to be negotiating a deal to purchase up to 10 Boeing freighters, which is expected to include two current-generation 777Fs.
