Boeing and Airbus are launching cargo planes that may face crowded skies

In recent years, when the world’s air carriers, aerospace manufacturers, and leasing companies gathered for the Dubai Airshow, the seemingly endless appetite for new planes shown by homegrown carrier Emirates Airlines and its Gulf competitors has gotten much of the attention. When this year’s show opens on Nov. 14, the spotlight will be on air freighters. Because of the dramatic growth of e-commerce, the pickup in demand for both consumer and industrial goods as the pandemic eases, and supply chain turmoil that’s shown the downside of total dependence on ocean shipping, cargo carriers and logistics companies are turning to air freighters. These behemoths can quickly transport huge amounts of freight while bypassing port tieups, shortages of ocean containers or rail cars, and the current dearth of long-haul truck drivers. And aircraft owners are eager to add more of them to their fleets because the prospects for freight growth are encouraging. Plane lessor Avolon Holdings Ltd., for example, forecasts air cargo revenue will reach $150b this year, with traffic doubling over the next 20 years. In Dubai, Airbus will be chasing customers for a cargo version of its A350 widebody passenger plane. Boeing is also preparing to unveil the initial deal for an all-cargo version of its 777X widebody. But the announcement could come outside of the airshow if an expected launch customer, Qatar Airways, skips the event because of geopolitical tensions. Both planemakers have been schmoozing the same small circle of potential buyers, a group that includes FedEx, Lufthansa, Singapore Airlines, and DHL, according to people familiar with the efforts who asked not to be identified as the talks are confidential.<br/>