> ## Content Index > Fetch the complete content index at: https://www.acmiworld.com/llms.txt > Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further. # 10 Largest Cargo Aircraft Still in Service Today - URL: https://www.acmiworld.com/10-largest-cargo-aircraft-still-in-service/ - Published: 2026-07-29T13:10:57.000Z - Updated: 2026-07-29T13:10:57.000Z - Author: ACMI World When you look at the [largest cargo aircraft](https://www.acmiworld.com/7-supermidsize-jets-worth-leasing-for-transcontinental-routes/) still in service, size means more than wingspan or length. Payload, cargo hold space, loading systems, and real-world availability all shape what each aircraft can carry. The Antonov An-124 and [Boeing 747-8F](https://www.acmiworld.com/most-popular-aircraft-models-for-leasing/) rank among the largest cargo planes still flying. They serve [heavy-lift](https://www.acmiworld.com/aircraft-maintenance-reserves-explained-what-airlines-and-lessors-actually-fight-about/), commercial air freight, and military transport needs. This list compares the heavy-lift leaders, high-capacity freighters, and specialized airlifters that support the global air cargo industry. The destroyed An-225 Mriya still matters to the history and future of oversized cargo transport, even if it’s not on this list. ## How The Ranking Defines Size And Service Status You compare these aircraft mainly by the weight they can carry. Cargo volume and [MTOW](https://www.acmiworld.com/key-terms-in-aircraft-leasing-contracts/) help explain important differences. You also need to separate aircraft that can fly cargo missions in 2026 from those that exist only in records or storage. ### Payload Capacity, Cargo Volume, And Maximum Takeoff Weight **Maximum payload capacity** sets the main order. It shows the heaviest cargo load an aircraft can carry. This measure lets you compare a military transport with a commercial freighter on the same basic scale. Cargo volume matters too, especially when your shipment is large but not very heavy. A freighter may have a lower payload rating but a bigger cargo hold, so it can carry more pallets, parcels, or bulky equipment. | Measure | What it tells you | | -------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------ | | **Payload capacity** | Maximum cargo weight the aircraft can carry | | **Cargo volume** | Space available inside the cargo hold | | **MTOW** | Maximum allowed weight of the aircraft, fuel, cargo, and crew at takeoff | **Maximum takeoff weight (MTOW)** gives useful context but doesn’t decide the ranking. A big aircraft with high MTOW might need more fuel for long flights, leaving less weight for cargo. Door size, floor strength, and loading ramps also affect what you can carry. ### What Counts As Still In Service in 2026 An aircraft counts as [**still in service**](https://www.acmiworld.com/aircraft-leasing-explained-for-airlines-and-investors-a-comprehensive-guide-to-financial-structures-and-market-dynamics/) if an operator can use it for cargo flights in 2026\. This includes commercial freighters and military transports that remain airworthy, supported, and ready for operations. A small [active fleet](https://www.acmiworld.com/why-airlines-are-turning-to-acmi-in-2026-gtf-groundings-delivery-delays-and-the-capacity-crunch/) still qualifies. The Antonov An-124, for example, remains in service with limited operators and is now the largest operational cargo aircraft after the An-225 was destroyed in 2022. You should skip aircraft that were destroyed, retired with no active operator, permanently grounded, or kept in museums. The An-225 had the highest payload capacity ever built—about 250 tonnes—but it can’t be on a list of aircraft still in service. Some aircraft fly rarely due to maintenance, sanctions, age, or low demand. If they can legally and safely complete cargo missions, they still count as active for this ranking. ## The Heavy-Lift Leaders These aircraft haul loads that blow past normal freight limits, from industrial equipment to military vehicles. Their designs serve different needs: commercial oversized cargo, scheduled global freight, and military airlift. ### Antonov An-124 Ruslan If you need to move oversized freight by air, the **Antonov An-124 Ruslan**—also called the *Condor*—is still one of the only practical options. Its maximum payload is about **150 tonnes**, and its nose can raise for front loading. Antonov Airlines uses the An-124 for heavy machinery, power-plant parts, aircraft engines, and [humanitarian supplies](https://www.acmiworld.com/servicos-aereos-para-missoes-governamentais/). The cargo hold fits items too large for standard freighters, including long or tall equipment. You can load cargo through the nose or rear ramp. The aircraft has built-in winches and cranes, which really helps when a remote airport doesn’t have heavy ground equipment. Its many landing wheels spread weight across rougher runways. That supports demanding heavy-lift missions. ### Boeing 747-8F The **Boeing 747-8F** is the largest production cargo aircraft still flying regular commercial service. It can carry a maximum revenue payload of about **137 tonnes** and has a range of roughly **7,630 km** with a full payload. You can load freight through its side door, nose door, and main-deck door. The hinged nose gives the 747-8F a big advantage for very long cargo, like industrial equipment or aircraft parts. Four **General Electric GEnx** engines mean better fuel use and lower noise than older 747 freighters. Airlines use it for dense general cargo on long routes—electronics, vehicles, express shipments, and palletized freight. ### Lockheed C-5M Super Galaxy The **Lockheed C-5M Super Galaxy** gives the **U.S. Air Force** its largest military airlift capability. Lockheed Martin upgraded older C-5 Galaxy aircraft with new engines, improved avionics, and reliability changes. You can load the C-5M through both its nose and rear doors at the same time. Its cargo compartment hauls large military equipment, including helicopters, armored vehicles, and multiple cargo pallets. The aircraft can carry about **127 tonnes** of cargo. For strategic airlift, it moves equipment and supplies across continents, then delivers heavy loads closer to where they’re needed. ## High-Capacity Commercial And Industrial Specialists These aircraft support global logistics with large cargo volumes, long range, and wide main-deck doors. You’ll spot them moving aircraft parts, dense freight, and heavy machinery on major cargo routes. ### Boeing 747 Dreamlifter The **Boeing 747 Dreamlifter** is a modified 747-400 built for aerospace logistics, not normal commercial freight. Its enlarged upper fuselage gives it about **65,000 cubic feet (1,840 cubic meters)** of cargo volume. You can use the Dreamlifter to carry large but relatively light items, like 787 Dreamliner fuselage sections and wing parts. Its swing-tail loading system opens the rear fuselage, letting oversized components slide in without being broken down. | Key feature | Boeing 747 Dreamlifter | | ------------ | ------------------------------ | | Cargo volume | About 1,840 m³ | | Main purpose | Boeing 787 component transport | | Engines | Four turbofan engines | | Fleet size | Four aircraft | The Dreamlifter isn’t a top freighter by payload. Its real value is the enormous internal space and its role in Boeing’s production supply chain. ### Boeing 777F The **Boeing 777F** is one of the most important widebody freighters flying today. It carries up to about **102 metric tonnes** of cargo and has a maximum range near **9,200 kilometers** with a full payload. You can load standard pallets and containers through its large side cargo door. Its strong floor supports dense shipments, making the 777F useful for electronics, express parcels, perishables, vehicles, and heavy machinery. Its two General Electric GE90 turbofan engines use less fuel than the four-engine 747 freighters they often replace. Airlines fly the 777F on long routes between Asia, Europe, the Middle East, and North America. Boeing plans the larger **777-8F** for the future, but for now, the 777F is the main in-service version. ### McDonnell Douglas MD-11F The **McDonnell Douglas MD-11F** is still a common cargo freighter, especially with express carriers and operators that need dependable main-deck capacity. It can carry roughly **85 to 91 metric tonnes**, depending on the mission and loading limits. You’ll recognize the MD-11F by its three engines—two on the wings, one at the base of the vertical tail. Its main deck hauls palletized freight, while lower holds take containers and smaller cargo. It can’t match the payload or range of the 777F, but it’s still useful on established commercial freighter routes. FedEx and UPS have operated large MD-11F fleets, moving time-sensitive shipments through major sorting hubs. ## Military And Production-Logistics Airlifters These aircraft move heavy military loads, large aircraft components, and commercial freight that needs [long-range capacity](https://www.acmiworld.com/bombardier-global-7500-charter/). Their designs reflect different needs: rough-field military access, factory supply work, and scheduled cargo service. ### Antonov An-22 Antei The **Antonov An-22 Antei** is a Soviet-era heavy transport built by the Antonov Design Bureau. It’s still one of the largest turboprop cargo aircraft ever made, with four contra-rotating Kuznetsov NK-12 engines. You can load up to **80 tonnes** of cargo through its big rear ramp. The hold fits armored vehicles, helicopters, engineering equipment, or palletized supplies. The An-22 was designed for military airlift missions, including operations from less-developed runways. Its large landing gear and turboprop engines gave it decent [short-field performance](https://www.acmiworld.com/beechcraft-king-air-350i-charter/) for its size. Very few remain active, mostly with Russian military aviation. Its limited fleet and age mean it’s not used much day to day compared to newer airlifters. ### Boeing C-17 Globemaster III The **Boeing C-17 Globemaster III** combines strategic range with tactical airlift. You can fly heavy cargo across oceans, then land it on [shorter runways](https://www.acmiworld.com/bombardier-challenger-3500-charter-2/) closer to the final destination. Its [maximum payload](https://www.acmiworld.com/aircraft-lease-rates-by-model-in-2026/) is about **77.5 tonnes**. The wide rear cargo ramp handles vehicles, helicopters, pallets, and troops, while the cargo floor supports heavy tracked and wheeled equipment. Four Pratt & Whitney F117 turbofan engines give the C-17 strong thrust and reverse-thrust capability. This helps the aircraft operate from airfields that can’t support larger commercial cargo aircraft. The C-17 serves with the United States and several allied air forces. It’s often used for military deployments, disaster relief, medical evacuation support, and oversized cargo missions. ### Airbus BelugaXL The **Airbus BelugaXL** is built to carry aircraft components between Airbus production sites. It doesn’t compete with standard freighters because its huge upper fuselage is made for bulky but relatively light loads. Based on the Airbus A330-200, the BelugaXL has a cargo hold about **7.1 meters wide** and can carry up to **51 tonnes**. Its forward-opening nose lets you load large sections without removing the cockpit area. Airbus uses the fleet to move wings, fuselage sections, tail assemblies, and other parts across Europe. The aircraft supports production of Airbus commercial jets, especially the A350 program. The BelugaXL replaced the older **Airbus A300-600ST Beluga**. Two **Rolls-Royce Trent 700** engines provide the power needed for its enlarged airframe and big-volume cargo. ### Boeing 767-300F The **Boeing 767-300F** is a long-range cargo aircraft used by airlines and express freight operators. You’ll find it flying for FedEx Express, UPS, and DHL-linked operators. It carries about **58 tonnes** of freight and has a main-deck side cargo door for pallets and containers. The lower holds add space for smaller shipments, mail, and temperature-controlled goods. Unlike the BelugaXL, the 767-300F carries dense commercial cargo, not oversized aircraft components. It fits right in with overnight parcel networks and international freight routes. The aircraft uses two high-bypass turbofan engines and can fly long sectors with [lower fuel use](https://www.acmiworld.com/7-reasons-the-bombardier-challenger-650-is-popular-for-private-jet-leasing/) than older four-engine freighters. Its widebody hold and mature support network keep it useful in modern cargo fleets. ## Why These Aircraft Matter To Global Freight And Airlift Large freighters give you speed, volume, and [access to airports](https://www.acmiworld.com/6-reasons-private-jet-leasing-appeals-to-international-clients/) across major trade routes. They support [scheduled cargo networks](https://www.acmiworld.com/7-signs-your-flight-volume-justifies-a-dedicated-private-jet-lease/) and provide special lift for loads you just can’t fit in standard aircraft. ### Scheduled Freight, Express Networks, And Cargo Hubs For [global air freight](https://www.acmiworld.com/ultra-long-range-private-jet-leasing-for-global-travel/), aircraft like the Boeing 747-8F, 777F, and 767F move high-value goods between [major cargo airports](https://www.acmiworld.com/7-things-to-check-before-leasing-aircraft-for-repeated-london-dubai-geneva-and-new-york-travel/). You might depend on these flights for **electronics, medical products, vehicle parts, and time-sensitive industrial goods**. FedEx, UPS, Amazon Air, Cargolux, Atlas Air, Emirates SkyCargo, Qatar Airways Cargo, and Lufthansa Cargo all use freighters in different roles. Widebody aircraft connect continents, and smaller freighters handle regional routes and overnight express shipments. Cargo hubs like **Leipzig/Halle Airport** sort packages and freight at high speed, usually at night. Large planes bring in containers from long-haul routes, and then smaller planes or trucks move them to their final markets. This setup keeps international trade and [just-in-time manufacturing](https://www.acmiworld.com/aviation-financing/) running. When a factory needs a specific part in hours or days, air freight can fill the gap that sea or road transport just can't. ### Outsize Charters, Humanitarian Missions, And Strategic Airlift Some cargo aircraft take on missions far beyond regular airline schedules. The Antonov An-124, Boeing 747 freighters, and military transports like the C-5 Galaxy and C-17 Globemaster III haul helicopters, generators, drilling rigs, rail vehicles, and other oversized loads. You can charter these planes when your cargo is too tall, heavy, or long for standard containers. Their nose doors, big rear ramps, and reinforced floors let crews load equipment that would otherwise need to be taken apart. Humanitarian missions count on this kind of airlift, too. During earthquakes, floods, conflicts, or outbreaks, big transports bring in field hospitals, water systems, vehicles, shelter supplies, and relief teams to damaged airports. Cargo aviation gives governments, aid groups, and businesses a way to move urgent equipment across long distances—no need to wait for ships or ground convoys. ## The An-225 Legacy And The Future Of Large Freighters The An-225 proved what a heavy-lift aircraft could do, but it also made clear the cost and limits of [operating one](https://www.acmiworld.com/types-of-aircraft-leasing-structures-explained-a-comprehensive-guide-to-industry-models/). [Future freighters](https://www.acmiworld.com/why-airlines-lease-aircraft-instead-of-buying-the-financial-strategy-behind-fleet-management/) need to balance payload, airport access, fuel use, and maintenance. ### Why The Antonov An-225 Mriya Is Not Included You won’t see the **Antonov An-225 Mriya** on lists of [cargo aircraft](https://www.acmiworld.com/a320-acmi-lease-for-airline-capacity/) still in service. Its only completed example was destroyed at **Hostomel Airport** in February 2022. Antonov built the six-engine giant during the Soviet era to carry the **Buran space shuttle** on its back. Later, it flew commercial heavy-lift missions, moving huge cargo that just wouldn’t fit inside any other plane. The An-225 is still the largest aircraft ever built by several measures. Its wingspan hit 88.4 meters, and it could carry up to 250 tonnes of cargo. | Aircraft | Status | Key limitation | | -------------------- | ---------------------------- | ----------------------------------- | | Antonov An-225 Mriya | Destroyed; not in service | Only one completed aircraft existed | | Antonov An-124 | In limited active service | Lower payload than the An-225 | | Boeing 747-400F | Still used by some operators | Older design and higher fuel use | A partly built second An-225 airframe exists. But finishing it would need major funding, new parts, testing, and certification. ### Next-Generation Capacity And Operating Constraints Large cargo fleets will stick with proven designs instead of chasing an An-225 replacement. The **Boeing 747-400F**, 747-8F, and Antonov An-124 can handle many heavy or oversized loads without needing the An-225’s size. Aircraft size sets real limits. A giant freighter needs long runways, strong pavement, wide taxiways, special loading gear, and airports that can handle its wingspan and weight. The **Airbus A380** has a huge passenger cabin, but Airbus never made a standard A380 freighter. The **Boeing 787 Dreamliner** carries cargo in its lower hold, but it’s really a passenger jet, not a main-deck freighter. Future designs might use more efficient engines, improved cargo systems, and some **SAF** to cut emissions. You’ll still need trained cargo pilots, reliable parts, and avionics techs who can support complex aircraft systems at airports worldwide. ## Frequently Asked Questions The Antonov An-124 is the largest cargo aircraft in regular service. The An-225 doesn’t fly anymore. The U.S. military’s biggest airlifter is the Lockheed Martin C-5M Super Galaxy. ### What is the largest cargo aircraft still in service? The **Antonov An-124 Ruslan** is the biggest cargo aircraft still flying. It can haul up to **150 tonnes** of cargo and has a huge rear ramp for heavy equipment. [Antonov Airlines](https://www.acmiworld.com/top-20-aircraft-leasing-companies-in-2026/) runs several An-124s for oversized freight. Russian operators and the Russian military also use An-124s, but fleet availability changes. ### Which are the biggest cargo planes currently operating worldwide? The largest active cargo planes include the **Antonov An-124**, **Boeing 747-8F**, and **Lockheed Martin C-5M Super Galaxy**. The An-124 carries up to 150 tonnes, and the 747-8F can carry about 137 tonnes. Other big cargo aircraft: **C-17 Globemaster III**, **Ilyushin Il-76**, **Xi’an Y-20**, and **Airbus BelugaXL**. You’ll also see the [Airbus A400M](https://www.acmiworld.com/6-best-light-jets-to-lease-for-regional-business-travel/) and Lockheed C-130 Hercules in military and commercial transport work. ### Is the Antonov An-225 Mriya still in service? Nope. The only completed **Antonov An-225 Mriya** was destroyed during fighting at Hostomel Airport in Ukraine in February 2022. The An-225 could haul a maximum payload of about **250 tonnes**—easily the largest cargo aircraft ever built. Antonov has talked about rebuilding it, but there’s no replacement in service. ### What is the largest cargo aircraft operated by the U.S. military? The **Lockheed Martin C-5M Super Galaxy** is the U.S. military’s biggest cargo aircraft. It can carry up to about **129 tonnes** and move tanks, helicopters, and other large equipment. The U.S. Air Force also uses the C-17 Globemaster III. The C-17 hauls less than the C-5M, but it can land on shorter, rougher runways. ### How many Antonov An-124 cargo aircraft are still operational? About **20 Antonov An-124 aircraft** are operational or potentially active worldwide, but the number changes with maintenance, inspections, and fleet limits. More than 50 An-124s were built. Antonov Airlines runs a small fleet in Ukraine. Russia has An-124s in military service, though commercial operations by some Russian carriers have faced big limits since 2022. ### What is the oldest cargo aircraft still in active service? The **Lockheed C-130 Hercules** stands out as one of the oldest cargo aircraft types still flying regular missions. It first joined military service way back in **1956**. Even now, you’ll find it working with air forces all over the world. Some folks might point out that a few Douglas DC-3 cargo conversions are technically older, and those designs go back to the 1930s. Still, the C-130 is the oldest major cargo aircraft type that’s actually used in big numbers.