Airbus Updates No.4571

 

Silk Way West Airlines orders two additional Airbus A350F freighters

Dubai, United Arab Emirates, 19 November 2025 – Silk Way West Airlines based in Baku, Azerbaijan has signed a firm contract for an additional two A350F freighter aircraft. The agreement, which takes the total order to four A350Fs, forms the backbone of Silk Way West Airlines’ fleet modernisation and expansion strategy.

“We are delighted to extend our partnership with Airbus on the A350F programme. This order, bringing our total commitment to four aircraft, marks a major milestone in our company’s growth and reflects our confidence in the future of sustainable air freight. The A350F will strengthen our leading position in the global air freight market as we continue to modernise our fleet and reduce our carbon footprint,” said Wolfgang Meier, President of Silk Way West Airlines.

“This repeat order from Silk Way West Airlines, the largest cargo airline in the Caspian Sea region, is a great vote of confidence at a time when the A350F is physically taking shape in our assembly lines. The A350F will ensure the airline maintains its leading position in the global air freight market and further enables its key role in developing Azerbaijan as a major global cargo hub at the heart of the Silk Road,” said Benoît de Saint-Exupéry, Airbus EVP Sales of the Commercial Aircraft business.

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. Currently, the assembly of test aircraft in Toulouse is underway.  

The A350F can carry a payload of up to 111 tonnes and will fly up to 4,700 nautical miles / 8,700 kilometres. Powered by the latest Rolls-Royce Trent XWB-97 engines, the aircraft will bring a reduction in fuel consumption and carbon emissions of up to 40% when compared to previous generation aircraft with a similar payload-range capability. The A350F will be able to operate with up to 50% Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) at entry-to-service, with the aim for 100% capability by 2030, as with all Airbus aircraft. 

At the end of October 2025, the all-new A350F had registered 74 orders from 12 customers.

Airbus Updates No.4447

 

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.

At least nine airlines have ordered the A350F, the ch-aviation fleets module shows. Since Airbus announced the A350F programme in 2021, it has received orders for 66 airframes. Etihad Airways and Starlux Airlines are the biggest customers of the type, each ordering ten aircraft. Future operators also include Air France, CMA CGM Air Cargo, Cathay Pacific, Martinair (Netherlands), Silk Way West Airlines, Singapore Airlines, and Turkish Airlines, while Air Lease Corporation has ordered seven aircraft and three were ordered by (an) undisclosed customer(s).