Indian all-cargo carrier Afcom Cargo (Afcom Holdings) executed a Letter of Intent with Boeing on September 2, 2026, for the acquisition of up to four next-generation Boeing 777-8 Freighters, as formally disclosed to the Bombay Stock Exchange. If converted into a definitive purchase agreement, the transaction would establish the Chennai-based operator as the launch customer in India for Boeing’s flagship twin-engine 777-8F widebody freighter.
The agreement marks an ambitious leap in scale and range for Afcom, which has operated exclusively as a narrowbody regional freight carrier. Afcom currently flies three converted Boeing 737-800 freighters, with plans underway to induct two additional 737 airframes to reach a five-aircraft narrowbody fleet. By contrast, the Boeing 777-8F provides approximately five times the cargo capacity and volume of a 737-800F, featuring a structural payload of up to 118 tonnes and accommodation for 31 main-deck pallets.
Under the strategic direction of Chairman and Managing Director Deepak Parasuraman, Afcom plans to base the widebody freighters at Chennai International Airport to anchor new long-haul intercontinental routes. While the carrier’s narrowbody operations focus on domestic charters and regional sectors—such as its newly launched three-times-weekly service connecting Navi Mumbai International Airport with Dubai World Central—the 777-8F is earmarked for high-volume flight sectors lasting 10 to 12 hours or more. The planned intercontinental network will link India directly to key manufacturing, trade, and logistics nodes across the Far East, Southeast Asia, and Africa, transporting time-sensitive pharmaceuticals, automotive parts, heavy machinery, perishables, and general air cargo.
The fleet expansion comes amid rapid commercial growth for the logistics company. For the fiscal year ending March 31, 2026, Afcom posted annual operating revenue of 583.1 crore rupees (approximately US $69.5 million) and net profit of 121.9 crore rupees (approximately US $14.5 million). To help fund the initial stages of its widebody induction, crew transition training, customs obligations, and ground handling infrastructure, the carrier raised 199.85 crore rupees (approximately US $23.8 million) through a Qualified Institutional Placement in May 2026. While delivery dates and definitive pricing terms remain subject to final contract negotiations, introducing the 777-8F will position Afcom to compete directly against established foreign freight integrators along India’s expanding international export corridors.