Airbus announced on 27 May 2026, that the Cathay Group has decided to convert two options on the A350F into firm orders. With this conversion, Cathay now has eight A350Fs on firm order. No delivery timeline has been communicated.
Cathay selected the A350F in December 2023 and placed a firm order for six aircraft with options on another twenty. Deliveries of the first of these six was originally scheduled to begin in 2027.
The airline plans to use its new Airbuses to replace the older Jumbojets in the fleet, which currently is made-up of six B747-400Fs and fourteen B747-8Fs.
Atlas Air Worldwide becomes Airbus’ largest A350F freighter customer with an order for 20 aircraft
Toulouse, France, 16 March 2026 – Atlas Air Worldwide Holdings, Inc. (“Atlas”), a global leader in airfreight logistics based in the United States in New York, has placed a landmark firm order for 20 Airbus A350F freighters. The order is the largest ever placed for the latest generation fuel efficient A350F and makes Atlas the biggest customer of the type.
The A350F aircraft will be deployed for growth. As a leading outsourced aviation logistics company, Atlas is uniquely positioned to bring the A350F’s next-generation performance to global operators across a wide variety of business models and markets.
“We are proud to become the largest customer for the Airbus A350F, securing early delivery positions for this next-generation widebody freighter platform,” said Michael Steen, Chief Executive Officer, Atlas Air Worldwide. “This order reflects our commitment to maintaining the industry’s most modern and fuel-efficient widebody freighter fleet to best service existing and new customers worldwide. The A350F is a highly capable, reliable platform, with incremental payload and range benefits, and a strong sustainability profile. We are pleased to add Airbus and Rolls-Royce to our supplier base of leading aircraft and engine manufacturers, offering us optionality and supporting our global operations and continued growth.”
“We are excited to welcome Atlas Air Worldwide, a global leader of the air cargo industry, to the Airbus family,” said Lars Wagner, CEO Commercial Aircraft at Airbus. “Atlas Air’s selection of the latest generation A350F - the first in the US - represents a pivotal moment, cementing the A350F’s position as the preferred true all new-generation freighter for the world’s most demanding cargo operators. We very much look forward to seeing it flying in Atlas’ colours."
The A350F features the largest main deck cargo door in the industry, with fuselage length and capacity optimised around the industry’s standard pallets and containers. Over 70% of the airframe is made of advanced materials, resulting in a 46 tonne lighter take-off weight than the competing derivative. The A350F is also the only freighter aircraft that will fully meet ICAO’s enhanced CO₂ emissions standards, coming into effect in 2027.
About Atlas Air Worldwide
Atlas Air Worldwide is the world’s leader in outsourced aviation logistics. The Company is the parent of Atlas Air, Inc., Titan Aviation Holdings, Inc. and Polar Air Cargo Worldwide, Inc. With approximately 5,000 employees, the Atlas Air Worldwide companies serve a diversified customer roster across the global supply chain in more than 300 destinations in 90 countries.
On 31 October 2025, Airbus announced that Korean Air has become the newest customer for its new A350F. The airline has decided to convert seven A350-1000s it had on order into an order for the freighter-variant. As a result of the conversion, the open A350-orders for Korean Air now consists of the seven A350Fs, six A350-900s and 20 A350-1000s.
No delivery timeline has been communicated by either company, although Airbus is aiming for entry into commercial service of the A350F in 2027.
Korean Air will use its new freighters to replace older aircraft in the fleet. The airline's cargo-fleet is currently made-up of four Boeing B747-400Fs, seven B747-8Fs, and twelve B777Fs.
Airbus has now received orders for 78 A350Fs, which breaks down into:
On 28 October 2025, Air China issued a notion to the Shenzhen Stock Exchange in which it announces its intention to place an order for new Airbus A350F-aircraft for its Air China Cargo-subsidiary. Final approval will be obtained during the airline's upcoming shareholder's meeting.
In total, the order will be for six firm aircraft with options on another four. Deliveries are scheduled to take place between 2029 and 2031.
Today, Air China Cargo is operating a fleet of six A330-200P2Fs, three Boeing B747-400Fs, and thirteen B777Fs.
AviLease orders Airbus A350F freighters and A320neo Family aircraft
Paris, France, 16 June 2025 – AviLease, the global aircraft lessor headquartered in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, has announced an initial order for 10 A350F freighters and 30 A320neo Family aircraft. The agreement which also foresees a future increase to 22 A350F freighters and 55 A320neo Family aircraft was signed at the 2025 Paris Airshow.
“We are proud to establish an Airbus order book, strengthening our position as a full-service, investment grade global lessor. The addition of these latest generation aircraft enhances our ability to offer modern, fuel-efficient fleet solutions to our airline partners in Saudi Arabia and around the world. We thank our local partners and Airbus for the strong long-term partnership we have established and look forward to placing these aircraft across our valued customer base,” commented Edward O’Byrne, CEO of AviLease.
“We are delighted to welcome AviLease as Airbus’ latest customer with this significant order for the all new A350F and leading A320neo Family”, said Benoît de Saint-Exupéry, Airbus EVP Sales of the Commercial Aircraft business. “The A350F will set the benchmark in air cargo, offering at least 20% reduced fuel burn, better loading capacity and increased range, while the A320neo Family continues to be the world's most popular single-aisle aircraft. This dual order reinforces AviLease’s credentials as a leading lessor, and it demonstrates the broad appeal of our products among lessors and their airline customers.”
The A350F features the largest main deck cargo door in the industry, with fuselage length and capacity optimised around the industry’s standard pallets and containers. Over 70% of the airframe is made of advanced materials, resulting in a 46 tonne lighter take-off weight than the competing derivative. The A350F is also the only freighter aircraft that will fully meet ICAO’s enhanced CO₂ emissions standards, coming into effect in 2027.
The A320neo incorporates the latest technologies including new generation engines, Sharklets and cabin efficiency enablers, which together deliver 20% fuel savings.
Supply chain issues delay Airbus A350F EIS to 2027
Airbus (AIB, Toulouse Blagnac) may experience delays in the introduction of the A350F due to supply chain problems, Reuters reported citing industry sources. The rollout of new freighter aircraft could be delayed by up to a year from the current schedule, which assumes a 2026 entry into service.
The manufacturer has not publicly commented on possible issues in the introduction and production of the A350F. The manufacturer is expected to announce updates on the issue on February 20, 2025, when it publishes its annual results.
Airbus is struggling to increase the production rate of the A350 due to issues with Spirit AeroSystems, a major US supplier that has been experiencing issues with quality control. Industry sources have said that Spirit AeroSystems cannot deliver a sufficient number of fuselage parts for the A350F, which is the reason for the potential late rollout of the freighter.
The issues will also likely prevent Airbus from ramping up its current production rate of passenger A350s, which is six aircraft per month.
On 9 January 2025, Airbus announced that STARLUX Airlines has decided to excercise its options it held for the A350F, doubling its order. The airline now has a total of ten freighters on order. STARLUX announced its first order for the A350F back in February 2024.
Airbus' first A350F is currently being assembled in Toulouse-Blagnac and is expected to make its first flight this year. Entry into commercial service is expected for 2027.
STARLUX Airlines is currently only operating passenger-flights with an all-Airbus fleet that is made-up of thirteen A321neos, five A330-900s, and eight A350-900s. Next to the ten A350Fs, the airline has open orders with Airbus for three A330-900s, four A350-900s, and eight A350-1000s.
Etihad has announced it has decided to exercise Airbus A350F-options and convert these into firm orders. In total, the airline is expanding its A350F-orderbook with three aircraft, bringing it to a total of ten.
The airline ordered its first seven A350Fs in 2022. Delivery of its first one is expected to take place late 2026 or early 2027. Etihad will use its new freighters to replace its current fleet of five Boeing B777Fs, of which the first was delivered in 2013.
Next to the freighter-version of the A350, Etihad is also operating five A350-1000s and has fifteen more of these on order.
CMA CGM Air Cargo (2C, Paris CDG) has ordered four additional A350Fs, increasing its total tally to eight of the type to be delivered in 2026 and 2027, and it will take possession of three B777-200Fs within the next 12 months.
The eight Airbus A350 freighters will enable the company to extend its reach and “operate a global network, meeting the global logistics needs of air freight customers,” it said in a statement. All eight airframes will be owned by parent entity CMA CGM, the company confirmed ch-aviation.
In addition, CMA CGM Air Cargo will take delivery of three new fully-owned B777-200Fs, with the first scheduled for delivery in June, the second in the fourth quarter of 2024, and the third in the first quarter of 2025. The first two - one of which will be operated by Atlas Air (5Y, New York JFK) - will be deployed between Europe and Asia and the United States, serving airports in Hong Kong International, Seoul Incheon, Chicago O'Hare, and mainland China. CMA CGM did not disclose where it would deploy its third B777-200F.
ch-aviation has asked CMA CGM and Atlas Air for added comment.
On 15 December 2023, Airbus and Turkish Airlines announced that both companies reached an agreement for a very large firm order for 220 new Airbuses. In total, the airline is ordering 150 A321neos, 50 A350-900s, fifteen A350-1000s, and five A350Fs.
Turkish also secured purchase options for 100 A321neos, 20 A350-900s, and five A350Fs.
Earlier this year, the airline already ordered fourteen A350-900s and the new ones are on top of those. In total, Turkish Airlines has now ordered 504 new Airbuses directly with Airbus, of which 212 have been delivered.
With these new aircraft, Turkish Airlines wants to expand its fleet and flights out of its hub at the new Istanbul Airport. Already today, the airline is the airline with the most destinations served in the world.
There have no delivery timelines been communicated by Airbus and Turkish Airlines on when the new aircraft should all be delivered.
Today, the Turkish Airlines' fleet is made up of six A319s, twelve A320s, 65 A321s, 41 A321neos, 10 A330-200Fs, 11 A330-200s, 36 A330-300s, sixteen A350-900s, 40 Boeing B737-800s, fifteen B737-900ERs, 20 B737-8s, five B737-9s, eight B777Fs, 35 B777-300ERs, and 22 B787-9s.
On 7 December 2023, the Cathay Group announced it has selected the Airbus A350F as its new freighter of choice. The airline has placed a firm order for six A350Fs and secured options on another 20 aircraft. Deliveries are to begin in 2027.
The selection of the A350F comes as a surprise as earlier in May 2023, we reported based on Reuters, that Cathay was close to an order for the B777-8F.
Cathay Cargo will use the initial six A350Fs to replace the six B747-400Fs in the fleet. The airline also operates fourteen B747-8Fs, which are also covered by the 20 options.
Biman Bangladesh Airlines (BG, Dhaka) has secured funding to purchase ten Airbus aircraft after signing a joint communique with the United Kingdom that will allow it to access funds via the UK Export Finance scheme. The communique was signed in London on May 6 just days after the airline said it wanted to buy the planes.
“This deal demonstrates the UK's commitment to strengthening Bangladesh’s aviation industry, in turn helping to create jobs in both countries,” said Lord Dominic Johnson of Lainston CBE, the UK's minister of state in the Department for Business and Trade.
Salman F Rahman, adviser to Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, signed on behalf of Bangladesh. The deal coincides with the prime minister's visit to the UK. The UK Export Finance scheme gives Bangladesh access to long term credit on easy deals, and follows active lobbying by Airbus to lock in an order, including sending demonstration aircraft to Dhaka.
The precise nature of the aircraft order remains unclear, but officials from Bangladesh's Ministry of Civil Aviation have been briefing local media on a May 3 Biman Bangladesh board meeting and the decision to buy eight passenger and two freight aircraft, with the first two planes expected in 2026.
"The government plans to revive and regain the international aviation market following the Prime Minister's directives on turning the country into an aviation hub in the subcontinent. We have taken a policy decision to purchase 10 new state-of-the-art aircraft for Biman,” said Mahbub Ali, the State Minister for Civil Aviation and Tourism.
“The decision to launch several new routes, including Japan and the United States, has already been taken. The procurement of the Airbus fleet is part of our plans for the region,” said Shafiul Azim, Biman Bangladesh's Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer.
Unnamed ministry officials are quoted saying Airbus was offering aircraft at around half their list prices. The prospective order is believed to involved A350s, including two A350Fs. However, Biman's board is yet to send technical information to the government, including details of the acquisition process and how they will pay for the planes. ch-aviation has contacted Biman Bangladesh Airlines for further information.
After bringing the A350F to Dhaka in March, Airbus reportedly put several proposals in front of Biman Bangladesh and the government at the Bangladesh Aviation Summit held in the same month. According to the ch-aviation fleets advanced module, Biman Bangladesh's current fleet of 21 aircraft comprises six B737-800s, four B777-300(ER)s, four B787-8s, two B787-9s, and five DHC-8-Q400s. It last operated Airbus aircraft in 2016, when it phased out the final of six A310-300s.
Meanwhile, local and foreign airlines serving Bangladesh will now have to start charging Bangladeshi's BDT taka denominated fares rather than US dollar, according to a circular from the Ministry of Civil Aviation and Tourism. The decision, which comes into effect on July 1, is primarily designed to drive down ticket prices for consumers but will also reduce foreign exchange transaction fees for airlines. Biman Bangladesh flies to 28 destinations in 14 countries.
On 27 January 2023, the board of directors of Air France-KLM has approved to order additional Airbus A350-aircraft for the airlines in the group. Most notable is a firm order for four A350Fs that will be operated for KLM Cargo by Martinair. The board also approved an additional three A350-900s for Air France.
The four A350Fs are planned to be delivered from the second half of 2026, which is the same timeline as the first delivery of four A350Fs for Air France Cargo, which were firmly ordered in December last year. With this, Air France-KLM will be one of the first launch operators for this new Airbus cargo aircraft.
At KLM Cargo/Martinair, the four A350Fs will replace current fleet of four Boeing B747-400Fs. Three of these are operating in KLM-livery, and one in Martinair-livery. It's unclear in which livery the new Airbuses will be operated but it's expected that it will be KLM's.
The additional three A350-900s for Air France are expected to be delivered in 2024. In total, Air France has now ordered 41 A350-900s.
Airbus has released the numbers over December 2022 and the total year. Last month, Airbus was able to note down sixteen aircraft orders, received 21 cancellations and delivered 98 aircraft.
Ordered were:
10 A330-900s by CIT Leasing
2 A350-900s by Financial Institutions
4 A350Fs by an Undisclosed customer
Cancelled were:
3 A220-100s by Lease Corporation International
17 A220-300s by Lease Corporation International
1 A220-300 by Macquarie Financial Holdings
Delivered were:
1 A321neo to Aegean Airlines (leased via SMBC Aviation Capital)
1 A320neo to Air Astana (leased via CDB Leasing)
1 A321neo to Air Astana (leased via Air Lease Corporation)
1 A220-300 to AirBaltic
2 A320neos to Air Cairo (leased via NAS Aviation Services)
1 A220-300 to Air Canada
3 A350-900s to Air China
1 A220-300 to Air France
3 A321neos to American Airlines
1 A321neo to Asiana Airlines
3 A320neos to Avianca (2 leased via NAS Aviation Services, 1 via DAE Capital)
2 A320neos to Azerbijan Airlines (leased via Aviation Capital Group)
2 A320neos to Azul (leased via BOC Aviation)
1 A220-300 to Breeze Airways
1 A350-1000 to Cathay Pacific
1 A320neo to CebuPacific
1 A321neo to China Air Lines (leased via CALC)
1 A320neo to China Eastern Airlines (leased via BoComm Leasing)
1 A350-900 to China Eastern Airlines
1 A321neo to China Southern Airlines
1 A350-900 to China Southern Airlines
2 A330-900s to Condor (1 leased via NAS Aviation Services)
1 A220-300 to Delta Air Lines
6 A321neos to Delta Air Lines
1 A350-900 to Delta Air Lines
2 A320neos to easyJet
1 A350-1000 to FrenchBee
3 A321neos to Frontier Airlines
1 A350-900 to Iberia
5 A320neos to Indigo
4 A321neos to Indigo
1 A220-300 to Iraqi Airways
3 A320neos to ITA Airways (leased via Avolon)
2 A220-300s to JetBlue Airways
1 A320neo to Jetsmart
1 A321neo to Jetsmart (leased via Aviation Capital Group)
2 A321neos to Jetstar Airways
2 A321neos to Juneyao Airlines
3 A320neos to LATAM
1 A320neo to Loong Air (leased via AerCap)
2 A321neos to Pegasus Airlines
1 A321neo to Qanot Sharq (leased via Air Lease Corporation)
1 A320neo to Sichuan Airlines (leased via AerCap)
1 A350-900 to Sichuan Airlines
2 A320neos to Spirit Airlines (1 leased via SMBC Aviation Capital)
2 A321neos to STARLUX (leased via NAS Aviation Services)
1 A321neo to TAP Air Portugal
1 A320neo to Tunisair
2 A321neos to Turkish Airlines (1 leased via Avolon)
1 A330-200 to UAE Air Force
2 A321neos to Uzbekistan Airways (leased via CDB Leasing)
3 A321neos to VietJet
1 A320neo to Vistara
1 A321neo to Volaris
3 A321neos to WizzAir
1 A321neo to Xiamen Airlines (leased via CMB Financial Leasing)
In total, Airbus logged 1078 orders for new aircraft and 258 cancellations, leaving a total of 820 net orders. A total of 663 new aircraft were delivered to customers last year.
Etihad Airways scales up its cargo operations with Airbus’ new generation A350F freighter
Etihad Airways has firmed up its order with Airbus for seven new generation A350F freighters, following its earlier commitment announced at the Singapore Airshow. The freighters will upgrade Etihad’s freight capacity by deploying the most efficient cargo aircraft available in the market.
This order of the A350F sees the national carrier of the UAE expanding its relationship with Airbus, and adding to its existing order of the largest passenger version of A350-1000s, five of which have been delivered.
Tony Douglas, Group Chief Executive Officer, Etihad Aviation Group, said: “In building one of the world’s youngest and most sustainable fleets, we are delighted to extend our long-term partnership with Airbus to add the A350 Freighter to our fleet. This additional cargo capacity will support the unprecedented growth we are experiencing in the Etihad Cargo division. Airbus has developed a remarkable fuel-efficient aircraft that, in tandem with the A350-1000 in our passenger fleet, supports our commitment to reaching net-zero carbon emissions by 2050.”
“Airbus is delighted to extend its long standing partnership with Etihad Airways, who recently introduced the A350 passenger services and is continuing to build on the Family with the game-changing freighter version, the A350F,” said Christian Scherer, Chief Commercial Officer and Head of Airbus International. “This new generation large freighter brings unprecedented and unmatched benefits in terms of range, fuel efficiency and CO₂ savings, that support customers by enhancing operational efficiencies at the same time as reducing environmental impact.”
Etihad has also firmed up a long term agreement for Airbus’ Flight Hour Services (FHS) to support its entire A350 fleet, to maintain aircraft performance and optimise reliability. This marks the first agreement for an Airbus FHS contract for an A350-fleet in the Middle East. Separately, Etihad has also opted for Airbus' Skywise Health Monitoring, allowing the airline to access real-time management of aircraft events and troubleshooting, saving time and decreasing the cost of unscheduled maintenance.
As part of the world’s most modern long-range family, the A350F provides a high level of commonality with the A350 passenger versions. With a 109 tonne payload capability, the A350F can serve all cargo markets. The aircraft features a large main deck cargo door, with its fuselage length and capacity optimised around the industry’s standard pallets and containers.
More than 70% of the airframe of the A350F is made of advanced materials, resulting in a 30 tonne lighter take-off weight and generating at least 20% lower fuel consumption and emissions over its current closest competitor. The A350F fully meets ICAO’s enhanced CO₂ emissions standards coming into effect in 2027. Including today’s commitment the A350F has won 31 firm orders by six customers.
The A350F meets the imminent wave of large freighter replacements and the evolving environmental requirements, shaping the future of air freight. The A350F will be powered by the latest technology, fuel-efficient Rolls-Royce Trent XWB-97 engines.
Singapore Airlines Firms Order For New Airbus A350 Freighters
Airbus’ new entrant to the freighter market has secured a firm commitment from Singapore Airlines during the ongoing Singapore Airshow. The airline had signed a letter of intent in December last year, and has now converted that commitment into a firm order for the type.The aircraft will start delivering from 2025, and is set to replace the airline’s fleet of 747-400Fs. In total, Singapore Airlines has signed for seven of the new freighters, Airbus’ first new entrant to the cargo market for many years.
“This order underscores the importance of the cargo market to the SIA Group. The introduction of the A350F will enhance our capabilities in this key sector, ensuring that we are ready for the growth opportunities that will arise in the coming years. These new-generation aircraft will substantially increase our operating efficiencies and reduce our fuel burn, making an important contribution towards the success of our long-term decarbonisation goals.”
Singapore Airlines is clearly a fan of the Airbus widebody and is presently the world’s largest operator of the type. It has a total of 51 A350-900s in its fleet, plus seven A350-900ULR. With the A350F in its stable, the airline will be able to benefit from fleet commonality as well as a highly efficient freighter aircraft.
Airbus Chief Commercial Officer and Head of International Christian Scherer noted,
“Singapore Airlines is the world's largest operator of the A350 and is now set to become the first to fly the all-new freighter variant. The A350F will fit seamlessly into the carrier's existing fleet, while redefining the operational efficiency of its cargo operations, bringing a 40% reduction in fuel consumption and emissions compared with the aircraft it will replace at SIA, while offering the same payload-carrying capacity and longer range.
Cargo continues to shine
For airlines all over the world, cargo has been a bright spot in the quagmire of pandemic-induced challenges. For Singapore Airlines, a highly international-focussed airline operating in a market devoid of domestic flying, it has been critical in staying afloat. Although we are still waiting for the financial results for the third quarter of 2021, ending in December, the most recent results demonstrate just how important cargo has been. In the second quarter, ending September, SIA reported a record high of cargo revenue, clocking in at SG$1,875 million ($1,395 million), up more than 50% over the same quarter in the previous years.
Part of this drive into cargo was achieved by using more passenger planes in that period, adding almost 50% to its cargo capacity. The SIA Group’s cargo network stands at 78 destinations, up from 76 at the end of the first quarter. Goh Choon Phong noted that the trend of cargo’s importance to the airline is anticipated to continue, saying,
“Consumer patterns have changed dramatically in recent times, generating increased demand for the swift transport of cargo by air. With the A350F, SIA will be well-positioned to respond to this enormous market potential in a profitable and sustainable way.”
Singapore Airlines currently uses the 747-400F for its cargo arm. It has a fleet of seven of the aircraft, with an average age of 18.3 years, according to data at ch-aviation. With seven new A350F incoming, these older Queens will be able to take retirement, letting SIA operate similar levels of cargo loads with lower overheads in the future.
Airbus Firms Up A350F Order With Cargo Powerhouse CMA CGM
French shipping and logistics company CMA CGM has given its official seal of approval to the Airbus A350F aircraft by placing a firm order for four freighters. This is in continuation to the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed by the company with the planemaker last month. The news signals a growing interest among airlines and freight organizations for the A350F and Airbus’ attempt to capture a substantial slice of the expanding air cargo business.
Firm order
The last couple of years have tested the aviation sector like no other in living memory. With many airlines hanging by a thread during the peak of the pandemic, it was cargo that raked in the much-needed capital to keep operations afloat. It’s no surprise then that many airlines are now reshaping and consolidating their long-term cargo strategies. And Airbus seems to have sniffed the demand.
In a statement on December 20th, the European planemaker officially announced firming up an order to purchase four A350F freighter aircraft with the CMA CGM Group. This will take the company’s total Airbus fleet to nine, which includes four A330-200Fs and one A330-200 that will be converted into a freighter.
The present order will take CMA CGM’s Airbus fleet to nine. Photo: Airbus
While it’s still early days to reach any firm conclusions, Airbus seems to have come up with a competitive freight product, enough to hold the attention of various airlines. The aircraft manufacturer explained in a statement what exactly makes the A350F more efficient than its competitors in the market, such as the 777F, saying,
“Over 70% of the airframe is made of advanced materials resulting in a 30t lighter take-off weight, generating an at least 20% lower fuel burn over its current closest competitor. With a 109t payload capability (+3t payload/ 11% more volume than its competition), the A350F serves all cargo markets (Express, general cargo, special cargo…) and is in the large freighter category the only new generation freighter aircraft ready for the enhanced 2027 ICAO CO₂ emissions standards.”
Busy year ahead
Releasing its November figures earlier this month, Airbus announced 318 new orders, many of which were revealed at the Dubai Air Show. With gross orders of 610 aircraft so far this year, the demand for new aircraft signals that airlines are ready to emerge out of the pandemic or evolve to operate in a post-COVID world.
Before the A350F, Airbus didn’t offer any substantial competition to Boeing’s line of freighter airplanes. Its paint issues notwithstanding, many airlines seem ready to invest in the freighter version of the A350 for their long-term cargo operations.
Air France has also issued a Letter of Intent for four A350Fs. Photo: Airbus
Apart from CMA CGM, other firms that have shown interest in the aircraft include American aircraft leasing company Air Lease Corporation (ALC), placing an order for 7 A350Fs, with Singapore Airlines and Air France issuing Letters of intent for 7 and 4 A350Fs, respectively. Qatar Airways, however, is not too gung-ho about the A350F (unsurprisingly), with CEO Akbar Al Baker confirming his lack of interest in the aircraft and eyeing the Boeing 777XF instead.
The Air France-KLM Group has become Airbus’ latest conquest this week, as the planemaker has snagged another significant order from the European group. In total, the group ordered 100 A320neo family aircraft for KLM and the two Transavias, with options for 60 more. In a surprise move, the group has also signed up for four A350F for Air France, with options on a further four.
A bumper order for Airbus today from the Air France-KLM group. Photo: Airbus
Airbus bags Air France-KLM for order hat trick
It’s been a good week for Airbus, as the planemaker has today snagged a third significant order in close succession. Following the Singapore Airlines order for the A350F earlier this week, and today’s news of a forthcoming order from Qantas, Airbus is shoring up its position closer to home too, with an order from Air France-KLM.
The European planemaker was pegged as the front runner for the group’s fleet renewal for some time, following the issuance of a tender earlier this year. The tender was to expand and renew the short-haul fleet of Dutch airline KLM, as well as to update the fleet of both French and Dutch branches of Transavia.
Today, the Air France-KLM group has announced a firm order for 100 A320neos alongside purchase rights for an additional 60 aircraft. The order covers Airbus A320neo and Airbus A321neo aircraft. The first deliveries are expected in the second half of 2023. The group stated that these aircraft will operate medium-haul routes in Europe, notably from Amsterdam-Schiphol – KLM’s global hub and Transavia Netherlands’ main base, and from Paris-Orly, Transavia France’s main base.
The A350F as well
It seems Airbus is keen to push its A350F to new customers, with the airline group also signing a letter of intent (LOI) for four of the freighter jets. Added to this is a purchase right for another four A350Fs, all headed for the Air France fleet.
Christian Scherer, Airbus Chief Commercial Officer and Head of Airbus International commented,
“We are honoured with Air France-KLM Group’s foresight, after an in-depth evaluation, to acquire the latest generation Airbus A320neo Family aircraft and A350F to modernise its European medium, short-haul, and cargo fleets. This milestone decision shows again that an aircraft’s value lies primarily in performance, reliability, fuel efficiency and reduced CO2 emissions, all criteria in which the Airbus product line excels. We are very proud to be awarded this decision and to be part of the future of these iconic airlines, Air France, KLM and Transavia.”
The group has also signed up for the A350F. Photo: Airbus
The choice of Airbus will be a kick in the teeth for Boeing, as all are Boeing narrowbody customers at present. KLM flies 47 737NGs for its short-haul needs, which average almost 15 years of age across the fleet. Transavia has 39 737s, averaging 11.8 years of age, while Transavia France has 54 737-800s with an average age of 9.1 years. None of these airlines presently fly the A320 family of jets.
What a week for Airbus
Airbus is having an excellent close to the year, with significant order news coming in left, right and center. Just yesterday, Singapore Airlines signed a commitment for seven A350F, the new freighter variant of Airbus’ popular widebody plane. SIA becomes the third customer for the new cargo plane, after ALC booked an order at the Dubai Air Show, and CMA CGM followed it up with an MoU for four.
Singapore Airlines has signed a letter of intent to purchase seven Airbus A350 freighters. Photo: Airbus
Earlier today, news came in from Qantas that Airbus was the chosen supplier for its future narrowbody fleet. The Australian flag carrier intends to purchase 40 aircraft from both the A320neo and the A220 families and wants to hold options for a further 94. Although the deal is not expected to be formally announced until June next year, it’s still a major feather in the cap of the European planemaker.
Adding Air France-KLM to Airbus’ order hat trick today really is the icing on the cake. Although the planemaker is looking likely to miss its 2021 delivery target by some measure, things are beginning to look up as the year draws to a close.
Cathay Pacific increases Airbus A350F-order
