Knowledge
The largest cargo aircraft
Outsize charter decisions are made on three numbers: payload, main-deck door dimensions and floor strength. This is how the heavy freighters compare in practice, and when each one is the right aircraft.
Antonov An-124
The reference aircraft for outsize and heavy project cargo, with a nose and rear loading capability, an onboard crane system and a cargo hold that accepts pieces no commercial freighter can take. Typical charter use is generators, transformers, mining and drilling equipment, satellites, helicopters and aircraft engines on oversized stands.
Availability is limited and lead times are longer than for standard freighters. Where a piece fits a B747F, the B747F is usually the faster and cheaper answer.
Boeing 747 freighter
The workhorse of long-haul main-deck charter. Nose-loading variants accept long pieces that cannot be turned inside the cabin, which is why the type dominates aerospace, energy and heavy machinery missions.
Payload in the region of 100 to 130 tonnes depending on variant and sector length, with wide airport availability and strong handling infrastructure at most freighter hubs.
Boeing 777F and 767F
The 777F carries a large payload over very long sectors with excellent fuel economy, which makes it the default for high-density perishables, pharma and general freight on intercontinental lanes. It is side-loading only, so piece height and length matter.
The 767F sits below it and fits lanes where volume does not justify a larger main deck, or where airport handling and runway performance favour a smaller aircraft.
Ilyushin IL-76 and regional freighters
The IL-76 is used where infrastructure is limited: unpaved or short runways, remote fields and humanitarian or special-mission operations. Rear ramp loading and rugged performance matter more than efficiency on those lanes.
Below that sit the A300F, B757F, B737F and turboprops down to the PC-12, used for regional AOG, automotive line-down and time-critical parcels.
Choosing the aircraft, not the headline
The largest available aircraft is rarely the right one. The correct choice is the smallest aircraft that accepts the piece dimensions, meets the payload and range requirement, and can be handled at both airports on your dates.
Send dimensions and weights per piece and we will size the aircraft against the mission rather than the specification sheet.
What is the largest cargo aircraft available for charter?+
The Antonov An-124 is the largest freighter routinely available on the charter market for outsize cargo. Availability is limited, so lead time matters.
Which freighter has nose loading?+
Nose-loading is available on B747 freighter variants and on the An-124, which allows long pieces to be loaded straight in without turning inside the hold.
How much can a B747F carry?+
Roughly 100 to 130 tonnes depending on variant, sector length and fuel uplift. The usable figure for your mission is confirmed against the actual routing.
More answers in the FAQ hub with 50+ questions.
Move the next mission
Send the requirement and the desk will come back with sourced options, or call now if it is time-critical.