Airbus Updates No.3698

 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.

Airbus Updates No.3655

Airbus and CMA CGM Group sign for four A350F freighters

Toulouse, 19 November 2021 – CMA CGM Group, a world-leader in shipping and logistics, and Airbus have signed a binding Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for the purchase of four A350F freighter aircraft. The order, which is subject to finalisation in the coming weeks, will lift CMA CGM’s total Airbus fleet to nine aircraft, including five A330-200F.

The aircraft will be operated by CMA CGM AIR CARGO, the recently launched air cargo activity of CMA CGM Group.

“We are proud to welcome CMA CGM AIR CARGO in the group of operators for the A350F and we are equally pleased to support the company’s future strategic development,” said Christian Scherer, Airbus Chief Commercial Officer and Head of Airbus International. ”The A350F will fit seamlessly into the carrier’s existing fleet of Airbus freighters. Thanks to its composite airframe and latest technology engines, it will bring unbeatable efficiency in terms of fuel burn, economics and CO₂ emissions, empowering the long-term sustainable growth of the Group.” Scherer adds: “Having an early endorsement by such an international cargo powerhouse as the CMA CGM Group is very gratifying.”

The A350F is based on the world's most modern long range leader, the A350. The aircraft features a large main deck cargo door and a fuselage length optimised for cargo operations. 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.

About CMA CGM:

The CMA CGM Group, a world leader in shipping and logistics headed up by Rodolphe Saadé, serves over 420 ports on 5 continents around the world. The Group’s fleet of 545 ships carried close to 21 million TEU (Twenty-foot Equivalent Unit) containers in 2020. With its CEVA Logistics subsidiary, a world-class logistics provider carrying 400,000 tons of air freight and 2.8 million tons of overland freight every year, and CMA CGM Air Cargo, the CMA CGM Group is constantly innovating to offer its customers end-to-end services delivering performance gains through ground-breaking shipping, overland, air freight and logistics solutions.

The CMA CGM Group is committed to leading the energy transition in shipping and has pioneered the use of alternative fuels. In addition, it has set itself the goal of being carbon-neutral by 2050. This program of continuous improvement has yielded concrete results and reduced the Group’s total CO₂ emissions by 4% in 2020.

With a network of over 400 offices and 750 warehouses in 160 countries, the Group employs more than 110,000 staff members worldwide, 2,400 of whom are based in Marseille where it has its registered office.