Freighter Aircraft Market Report 2026

The freighter aircraft market size has grown strongly in recent years. It will grow from $7.85 billion in 2025 to $8.51 billion in 2026 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 8.4%. The growth in the historic period can be attributed to globalization of trade, expansion of international air cargo routes, growth of express logistics services, reliance on air freight for high value goods, development of wide body aircraft platforms.

The freighter aircraft market size is expected to see strong growth in the next few years. It will grow to $11.64 billion in 2030 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 8.1%. The growth in the forecast period can be attributed to continued growth of e commerce logistics, demand for faster cross border deliveries, fleet modernization initiatives, rising pharmaceutical and perishable transport needs, expansion of military airlift requirements. Major trends in the forecast period include growth of dedicated cargo aircraft fleets, rising passenger to freighter conversions, increasing demand for long haul cargo aircraft, expansion of e commerce driven air freight, growing focus on fuel efficient freighters.

The increasing demand for air cargo services is expected to propel the growth of the freighter aircraft market going forward. Air cargo services refer to the fast and efficient transportation of goods by aircraft, typically used for time-sensitive, high-value, or long-distance shipments. The demand for air cargo services is increasing due to the rapid growth of e-commerce, which requires fast and reliable transportation to meet consumer expectations for quick delivery, especially in cross-border and time-sensitive shipments. Freighter aircraft are useful for air cargo services as they provide large, dedicated space for transporting goods quickly and efficiently, ensuring timely delivery of various cargo types across long distances. For instance, in April 2025, according to the International Air Transport Association, a Canada-based trade association, in March, total demand for air cargo, measured in cargo tonne-kilometers (CTK), rose by 4.4% year-over-year, reaching a historic high for the month, while capacity, measured in available cargo tonne-kilometers (ACTK), grew by 4.3% over March 2024 levels, with international operations seeing increases of 5.5% and 6.1%, respectively. Therefore, increasing demand for air cargo services is driving the growth of the freighter aircraft market.

Key companies in the freighter aircraft market are focusing on technological advancements such as passenger-to-freighter (P2F) conversions, increased payload capacities, and fuel-efficient designs to enhance cargo volume, operational efficiency, and reduce turnaround times. Modern P2F conversions incorporate reinforced floors, large cargo doors, and advanced handling systems - similar to modifications made to narrow-body aircraft - enabling smoother loading, greater cargo capacity, and safer operations. For example, in October 2025, Aeronautical Engineers, Inc., a U.S.-based aircraft conversion specialist, launched the B737 900ERSF (Extended Range Special Freighter) conversion program. This solution provides a main deck payload of approximately 57,700 lbs and a cargo volume of around 7,273 cu ft, compared with roughly 52,000 lbs and 6,500 cu ft in typical B737 800SF conversions, improving operational efficiency by optimizing freighter capacity for express, e-commerce, and regional cargo missions.

In June 2025, Regional One, a U.S.-based provider of aircraft redelivery services, partnered with Embraer to expand the E-Freighter conversion initiative targeting regional cargo markets. The collaboration is designed to boost adoption of Embraer’s E-Jet freighters by utilizing Regional One’s capabilities in leasing, asset management, and aircraft redelivery to offer tailored conversion solutions. Embraer, headquartered in Brazil, is a manufacturer of freighter aircraft.

Major companies operating in the freighter aircraft market are The Boeing Company, Airbus SE, Lockheed Martin Corporation, Leonardo S.p.A., Textron Aviation Inc., Kawasaki Heavy Industries, Dassault Aviation, Singapore Technologies Engineering Ltd., Embraer S.A., Saab AB, Piaggio Aerospace, Antonov, De Havilland Aircraft of Canada Limited, Elbe Flugzeugwerke GmbH, Precision Aircraft Solutions, KF Aerospace, PEMCO Conversions, Kalitta Air LLC, IAI Bedek Aviation Group, AAR Corp., Marshall Aerospace And Defence Group, Sabena Technics, Haeco Group, EFW Dresden.

North America was the largest region in the Freighter Aircraft market in 2025. Asia-Pacific is expected to be the fastest-growing region in the forecast period. The regions covered in the freighter aircraft market report are Asia-Pacific, South East Asia, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, North America, South America, Middle East, Africa. The countries covered in the freighter aircraft market report are Australia, Brazil, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Japan, Taiwan, Russia, South Korea, UK, USA, Canada, Italy, Spain.

The freighter aircraft market consists of sales of combi aircraft, palletized freighters, military cargo aircraft, express freighters, feeder freighters, and unmanned cargo aircraft. Values in this market are ‘factory gate’ values, that is, the value of goods sold by the manufacturers or creators of the goods, whether to other entities (including downstream manufacturers, wholesalers, distributors, and retailers) or directly to end customers. The value of goods in this market includes related services sold by the creators of the goods.

The market value is defined as the revenues that enterprises gain from the sale of goods and/or services within the specified market and geography through sales, grants, or donations in terms of the currency (in USD unless otherwise specified).

The revenues for a specified geography are consumption values that are revenues generated by organizations in the specified geography within the market, irrespective of where they are produced. It does not include revenues from resales along the supply chain, either further along the supply chain or as part of other products.

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