Boeing Delivers Final 767-300F To FedEx

Boeing has delivered its final 767-300F to FedEx as part of a chapter that’s closing involving the long-established freighter part of the American planemaker’s line-up.

The closure of the chapter sees the planemaker almost move on from the chapter of its freighter line for this model, the 152nd and final 767-300F for FedEx is registered as N244FE and departed Paine Field in Everett.

Saying Goodbye To The Boeing 767F

The 767-300F has been and continues to be a staple for freight flying around the world, and for Boeing, that life has extended far beyond its passenger iteration of this same family. The planemaker, however, has already committed to ceasing its freighter program in 2027.

Boeing’s closure of the 767F program depends on the remaining aircraft under contractual obligations that must be fulfilled. That includes a handful of UPS and 767-2C aircraft being converted into KC-46A Pegasus aerial tankers.

The decision, however, is simple for the business. The 767 passenger line has long been active, for over a decade, the freighter and tankers were the only jets being produced. Thus, supply for these models has been limited, and the line is not only smaller than others but also sees costs increase over time due to ongoing maintenance.

Additionally, the new carbon emissions standards being pushed mean that Boeing has initiated plans to end production of the 767F in 2027. That shift was always coming, but now puts the emphasis on Boeing on what’s next, and that’s a move towards a new, highly anticipated era of freight flying that is similar to passenger jets, prioritising efficiency.

Boeing’s 767F To Leave A Strong Legacy

At its completion, the 767-300F will be remembered as an extension of what was a game-changing and refinement of how twin-engine aircraft were able to operate, and for FedEx, a cornerstone of their own freight operations as the ideal intercontinental freighter that was the perfect mid-size model.

FedEx first took delivery of the type in 2013. Since then, it has amassed well over 100 of this type, serving as the backbone of its extensive fleet of nearly 500 jets and representing its largest commitment to any aircraft family.

The 767F has served customers well because of its range matched with payload capacity, meaning it’s not too large but equally not too small; it slots into the perfect mid-sized category of a freighter that is fit for purpose across a host of operators, whether in Europe, Asia, or closer to home in the Americas.

A 60-tonne payload class also means the jet is capable of serving smaller airports, which are considered a more secondary market, still dependent on service, but where larger freighters are not a viable solution. It’s those mid-sized capabilities that’ll ensure the 767F is remembered for decades to come as a balanced jet.

Moving forward, as the 767F line comes to a close and the remaining deliveries take place, Boeing looks towards the future, with the larger 777-8F acting as the first entrant into the new efficient era of freight flying; however, its segment of the 767F is one that’ll have no successor for the moment.