FAA’s new fuel efficiency rules signal end for Boeing 767F production by 2028

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has recently finalized its fuel efficiency rules, impacting certain subsonic jet aircraft and propeller-driven planes. The regulations, effective from April 16, could result in the discontinuation of Boeing 767F freighter production by the year 2028.

ICAO’s emission reduction program drives FAA’s decision

The FAA’s decision stems from the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) and its International Aviation and Climate Change program developed in 2009. The Committee on Aviation Environmental Protection, a part of ICAO, approved the new emissions standard in February 2016, adopted by ICAO in March 2017.

The FAA’s final rule, published on February 16, 2024, outlines that the new fuel efficiency standards will apply to aircraft with an original type certification (TC) on or after January 1, 2021, manufactured after January 1, 2028, or certified before 2021 but underwent modifications affecting emissions after January 1, 2023.

Low demand predictions beyond 2028

Boeing, alongside other stakeholders including Airbus, ATR, Embraer, Gulfstream, and General Electric, expressed concerns about a diminished demand for the Boeing 767F beyond 2028. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) amended domestic aircraft greenhouse gas emissions standards in January 2021, in line with the Clean Air Act.

In response to ICAO’s proposed international standards, a technical support document (TSD) issued by the EPA in December 2020 highlighted that the Boeing 767F would not meet these standards, with Boeing and other industry players predicting a low volume of demand for the freighter beyond January 1, 2028.

Impact on cargo carriers

As of January 31, Boeing’s Orders & Deliveries filings indicated that only UPS and FedEx had outstanding orders for the 767F, with 21 and 16 units respectively. According to ch-aviation data, there are currently 497 Boeing 767F aircraft in service or maintenance, operated by 39 carriers worldwide.

While Boeing has not unveiled a potential successor for the 767F, including the possibility of a 787 freighter or new engines, Stan Deal, the CEO of Boeing Commercial Airplanes, suggested during the Paris Air Show in 2023 that the company might explore seeking an exemption for the 767F. However, with these new fuel efficiency rules in place, the future of the 767F remains uncertain beyond 2028.

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