Reference
Boeing 737-400F
The regional feeder freighter. Payload, cargo hold, door size and typical role below.
- Maximum payload
- 21,364 kg
- Cargo volume
- 154 m³
- Cargo hold (L × W × H)
- 24.40 × 3.19 × 2.14 m
- Cargo door
- 3.40 × 2.10 m
About the Boeing 737-400F
A converted 737-400, and one of the most widely used narrowbody freighter conversions in service.
It feeds the long-haul network: consolidating freight from secondary airports into the hubs where widebody freighters load, and distributing inbound cargo the same way. Short sectors, high frequency, modest payload.
What it carries
How it is built
- A converted passenger airframe: cabin stripped, floor reinforced, and a large cargo door cut into the forward left fuselage.
- A rigid 9g barrier immediately aft of the flight deck, protecting the crew if the load shifts.
- A powered floor system sized for the narrower single-aisle pallets and containers rather than full widebody ULDs.
- Windows plugged and the cabin systems removed, cutting weight and simplifying the shell.
Why it is used
- Economic on the short and medium sectors where a widebody freighter would fly half empty.
- Operates from a far wider range of airports, including those with no widebody handling.
- Conversion of an existing airframe costs a fraction of a new-build freighter, which is why the segment keeps growing.
- Frequency over capacity: several daily rotations suit express and e-commerce traffic better than one large flight.
What to check before booking
- Payload and volume are a fraction of a widebody, so a large consignment will need several rotations.
- The main deck takes narrowbody ULDs, not the full-size pallets used on widebody equipment.
- Range is limited; intercontinental work needs a fuel stop or a different aircraft.
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