Atlas Air CEO Warns of Global Freighter Shortage Until 2040

Atlas Air CEO Michael Steen has warned that the global air cargo industry is heading toward a long-term shortage of widebody freighter capacity, a challenge expected to persist until at least 2040. Steen’s comments, reported by Air Cargo News, highlight growing concerns about the aging freighter fleet and a lack of sufficient new aircraft entering the market.

Steen noted that widebody freighters are retiring faster than they are being replaced, creating a supply imbalance that could disrupt cargo operations for years. “The global freighter fleet is aging, and we are seeing a situation where aircraft are being retired more quickly than new ones are delivered,” he said. He has raised this concern repeatedly in recent years, citing structural issues in aircraft production.

Boeing is set to end production of the 777-200F in 2027, and the next-generation Boeing 777-8F and Airbus A350F freighters are not expected to enter service until late 2027 or early 2028. Steen emphasized that this timeline will result in at least one full year with no new widebody freighters entering the global fleet, increasing pressure on available cargo capacity.

He warned that unless production ramps up significantly, the freight industry will remain capacity-constrained well into the 2040s. With e-commerce, global trade, and express logistics continuing to grow, Steen urged airlines and manufacturers to take proactive steps to address the looming shortfall.

Atlas Air is one of the world’s largest cargo carriers, and its projections suggest significant challenges ahead for global air freight operators.

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Sources: AirGuide Business airguide.info, bing.com, ch-aviation.com