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MSC Air Cargo places order for 777-8 freighters

MSC Air Cargo has been confirmed as the latest carrier to order the Boeing 777-8F next-generation freighter with the aircraft due to start delivery in the early 2030s. Announced at the Farnborough International Airshow, the airline announced it would order five of the aircraft as part of its "ambitious" growth strategy. The order had appeared on Boeing's orderbook report in December as coming from an unidentified customer. "The addition of five 777-8 Freighters will strengthen its long-haul capacity and support the continued development of its network in the decade ahead," the airline said in a press release. MSC Air Cargo launched operations in 2022 and since then has expanded its fleet to seven Boeing 777-200 Freighters serving strategic gateways across Europe, Asia and the Americas. Jannie Davel, chief executive of MSC Air Cargo, said: "With this order, we are investing in the long-term future of MSC Air Cargo and in the customers we serve. "The 777-8 Freighter gives us the efficiency, range and capacity to serve our customers reliably for years to come, while advancing our commitment to more sustainable operations. It is the right aircraft for the next stage of our growth." The airline added that the order also signals its confidence in long-haul demand well into the next decade, and its intent to keep investing in capacity. Brad McMullen, Boeing senior vice president of commercial sales and marketing, said: "With the order of five new, large widebody freighter aircraft, MSC Air Cargo is investing in its future and will further enhance the capability and reach of its global air network. "The 777-8F is the most efficient aircraft in its class and will connect MSC Air Cargo's hubs to key international markets." The order from MSC is the second announced for the freighter in recent weeks. In late June, China Southern Air Cargo became the first Chinese carrier to order the model when it announced a deal for five of the aircraft, with options to purchase three more. The China Southern order was the first for the 777-8F from a named customer since November 2025, when China Airlines confirmed to Air Cargo News that it would expand its order for 777-8F aircraft by four units to a total of eight. According to the latest order and delivery update from Boeing and Airbus, the Airbus A350F has more orders than the Boeing 777-8F, with a total of 107 confirmed orders compared with 81 for Boeing. However, Boeing's latest update lists the MSC order as having come from an unidentified customer. MSC Air Cargo is the third Europe-based air cargo operator to order the airplane. Meanwhile, Cargolux recently announced the purchase of four Boeing 747 freighters from China Southern in part because of delays to the Boeing 777-8F programme. The exact timeline of entry into service of the 777-8F depends on Boeing gaining certification for the 777-9 model, which will be the first of the 777X family to enter service and open the way for other models in the family to follow suit. Boeing had initially hoped to start delivering the aircraft to customers in 2027 but this has now been officially pushed back into 2028.

Growing Kalitta Air renews with ACL Airshop

Freighter operator Kalitta Air has renewed its partnership with ULD firm ACL Airshop for a further five years. Under the renewed agreement, ACL Airshop will provide ULD supply and management solution covering the lifecycle of Kalitta Air's ULD fleet. Services include fleet control, repair and maintenance, net replacement, global logistics, digital tracking, analytics, customer support and reporting, and operational support. ACL will also modernise and digitalise Kalitta Air's ULD fleet to improve visibility and extend the service life of its ULD assets. Arthur Jamison, assistant director, operational control centre, ground services, Kalitta Air, said: "We've built a long relationship based on trust, performance, and a shared focus on delivering reliable solutions for our customers. "As Kalitta Air continues to grow its worldwide network, we're excited to continue working alongside ACL to drive innovation, improve operational efficiency, and support the next generation of air cargo logistics." ACL Airshop chief operating officer Wes Tucker added: "We've grown together, adapted to a changing industry, and continued to find new ways to advance their ULD operations." The expansion of the ULD deal between the two firms comes as Kalitta Air has been expanding its fleet of freighters. In 2025, aircraft lessor AerCap began delivering converted Boeing 777 freighters to launch operator Kalitta Air as part of a seven-aircraft order placed by Kalitta as it works to modernise its fleet and replace its ageing Boeing 747 freighters. According to aircraft tracking site Planespotters.net all seven of the aircraft have now been delivered, joining a further eight production 777Fs and 22 Boeing 747-400Fs.

French customs shake-up raises the bar rather than closing the door

Following France's abolition of Regime 42 for non-EU businesses, UK shippers and freight forwarders are increasingly turning to DAP (Delivered at Place) 42 terms to bypass challenges. The French Customs Procedure Code Regime 42 changes that took effect on 1 January have affected UK exporters that use France as their entry point into the EU, particularly on DDP (Delivered Duty-paid) shipments. UK exporters that ship DDP can no longer use a fiscal reps VAT number, and need to register for VAT themselves in France. Groupe BBL's head of UK, Gareth Godber, told The Loadstar: "The main challenges are obtaining a French VAT registration and then managing that VAT number monthly. Many businesses have faced redesigning how they export / import goods in fear of EU buyers purchasing goods elsewhere. "We have also seen companies changing the incoterms in which they export goods to the EU, from DDP to DAP, due to a lack of knowledge and potential solutions available." Groupe BBL's solutions centre around DDP Regime 40 and DAP Regime 42. Mr Godber said one of the key differences using Regime 40 meant only one VAT registration in France, allowing a UK company to sell in all EU 27 countries. On DAP Regime 42, he said: "We had to find a compliant and competitive way to service clients that didn't want their own French VAT registration, but still wanted all the benefits. This is where BBL went to market with DAP R42. "Instead of representing the UK exporter, we now represent the EU importer under DAP R42." This allows customers to still clear in France and benefit from no T1 documents or VAT outlay, a centralised clearance point in France and any duty/tax applicable billed back to UK. Davies Turner's head of sales and development southwest, Edward Lucy, told The Loadstar, "DAP Regime 42 has been pushed a lot, and the industry has picked up on it. DAP Regime 42 is the preferred method from the perspective of the shipper because it is cheaper, de-risks things and they don't have to get involved in VAT or be named on customs entries (they are still involved in the entry)." However, he emphasised that it was important to offer shippers options. Others include standard DAP, DDP Regime 40, and DDP VAT Forward. Mr Lucy said some of the companies most affected by the changes were the smaller ones. He added: "Bigger companies absorb and make things work. It is harder for the smaller companies as they have to get to grips with it and don't have enough time. It's a lot more complex than it sounds due to the accompanying risk." Meanwhile, Pawel Jarza, policy, compliance and external affairs director at BIFA, looked back to the regime changes in January and recalled: "This change was announced relatively late in the day, and it did cause a bit of confusion. We had more inquiries from members, and we tried to educate them as much as we could at that point." He noted that the market had appeared to settle down after a transition period. In his opinion, other customs authorities in the EU might look at their procedures, tying into the current EU customs reforms. "It depends on what the EU does with its customs reforms and how this changes the landscape. New solutions might appear and this particular regime may morph into something different, but this is long term." Elsewhere, Mr Godber believes that over the next three to five years, the DDP market will be characterised by factors including greater use of digital customs and VAT solutions, an increased confidence among EU customers buying from UK suppliers and a smaller number of providers offering DDP, but with higher levels of expertise and service quality. He added: "In many respects, the DDP Regime 42 changes are raising the bar rather than closing the door. Businesses that adapt early are well positioned to differentiate themselves, deepen customer relationships and capture opportunities as competitors retreat."