14 March, 2024
Airbus establishes an OpenCargoLab with leading airfreight industry partners
21 February, 2024
STARLUX orders Airbus A350F and more A330neo widebodies
STARLUX Airlines of Taiwan has placed a firm order for five all-new A350F freighters and three more A330neo widebody aircraft. The agreement was signed at the Singapore Airshow by KW Chang, Chairman of STARLUX Airlines and Christian Scherer, CEO of the Commercial Aircraft business of Airbus.
10 December, 2023
Cathay Group orders Airbus A350F freighters for its future cargo fleet.
30 January, 2023
Martinair, part of KLM Group to get four new Airbus A350Fs
The Air France-KLM Group has placed a firm order for four A350Fs, the brand new Airbus widebody freighter, to be operated by Martinair Holland N.V., a Dutch cargo airline headquartered and based in Amsterdam Schiphol airport, and part of KLM Group. The A350F’s will allow the airline to retire its existing older generation freighters and replace them with a clean sheet cargo aircraft that offers a big step towards more sustainable cargo operations.
03 August, 2022
Etihad Airways has firmed up its order with Airbus for seven new generation A350F freighters
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.
28 June, 2022
Silk Way West Airlines signs order for two A350F
Silk Way West Airlines based in Baku, Azerbaijan has signed a purchase agreement for two A350F. This is the first order from the Caspian region for this aircraft type. The freighters are intended to modernize and further grow the existing fleet with the most efficient and sustainable cargo aircraft available in the market.
: Mr. Wolfgang Meier, President of Silk Way West Airlines and Mr. Wouter Van Wersch, EVP Region & Sales Europe Airbus, at the signature ceremony in Baku |
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27 April, 2022
Airbus A350F available with Flight Deck and Crew Rest Humidifier.......
CTT Humidifiers are so-called cold evaporation humidifiers using Munters, a global leader in energy-efficient air treatment and climate solutions, Glasdeck (TM) material for example used in stationary applications in hospitals and data centres.
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12 April, 2022
Four cargo Airbus A350Fs for Air France-KLM
Air France-KLM has finalised its order with Airbus for four new generation A350F freighters, following the earlier commitment announced in December 2021. The freighters are destined to increase Air France’s cargo capacity with the most efficient and sustainable cargo aircraft available in the market.
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The A350F offers unbeatable efficiency and sustainability in terms of fuel burn, CO2 emissions and economics, and it will be the first new freighter to meet the latest ICAO CO2 requirements.The A350F offers nose-to-tail innovation with advanced materials (including carbon fibre and titanium) for reduced maintenance and the highest operational availability in its class.The A350F offers superior economics due to the best combination of payload, volumetric capacity and range.The A350F can be seamlessly integrated into airline fleets, having spares and tooling commonality with the A350 passenger aircraft for airframe and engines, as well as “same type rating” for flight crews and ground technicians.The A350F is the future-proof choice for the large widebody freighter market.
The A350F is much lighter and less maintenance-intensive than its competitors, largely thanks to its structure which comprises over 70% advanced materials such as composites, titanium and modern aluminium alloys. Notably, the wings, the centre wing box and also the fuselage panels are manufactured mostly with composites. These materials choices result in a lighter, stiffer, stronger, more capable and cost-efficient aircraft, while increasing resistance to corrosion and fatigue for reduced maintenance requirements. In fact, Airbus calculates that the A350F will provide its customers around 65 more revenue days due to less maintenance downtime versus the proposed 777-8F over 16 years, thanks to the A350F’s clean-sheet advanced materials and well-integrated systems. Moreover, these predictions are realistic given the proven track record of the A350-900 and -1000 in service today which are delivering more operational availability for extra revenue for operators.
On top of the low fuel consumption which already contributes to major savings, the A350F’s unbeatable economics are also built on the three tonnes additional structural payload (for a total of 109 tonnes) compared with the 777F. Moreover, to do the same job as its current competitor, the A350F will weigh around 28 tonnes less at take-off due to its much lighter composite fuselage & centre wing box, while burning around 20% less trip fuel. This also means that operators of Airbus’ new A350F freighter will benefit from lower landing and navigation charges.
As for the proposed 777-8F, while the current estimates suggests that it could offer six percent more volume and seven tonnes more payload than the A350F, this would come with a hefty burden of at least 32 additional metric tonnes (32,000kgs) of take-off weight (Airbus’ initial estimate) – which increases fuel burn, CO2 emissions and airport charges.
The A350F’s higher running-load capability over more of the floor will provide superior pallet loading flexibility and C-of-G management. In particular, its operators will be able to utilise the full 6.8 tonnes maximum certified limit for a 96x125 pallet for 20 of the 30 pallet positions, whereas the 777F only offers six pallet positions with a 6.8t pallet capability – with all the rest being limited to a maximum loading of only around four tonnes where the floor loading is more limited.Mention should also be made of the A350F’s composite main-deck-cargo door (MDCD). With a clear opening measuring 3.72m by 3.16m, it allows loading on board of all new large turbofan engines. Meanwhile, the flexibility of the main-deck cargo-loading system (CLS) inside the aircraft provides for up to six positions for these engines to be directly latched, instead of using straps. The use of latches not only minimises turnaround time, but also frees-up space adjacently for two extra pallets.
Another key requirement when defining the A350F was the capability to fly from Hong Kong to Anchorage – an industry benchmark mission as it is the most often flown cargo route in the world – at full payload. Accordingly, the A350F with 109t max structural payload can carry it over 4,700nm to enable this route, and do so with the lowest possible fuel burn and proportionally reduced CO2 emissions.
18 February, 2022
Etihad Airways to take seven new generation Airbus A350F freighter jets
Etihad Airways has signed a Letter of Intent (LoI) for seven A350F freighters to add to its existing fleet of five A350-1000 passenger versions. The announcement was made at the Singapore Airshow 2022. Etihad has also selected Airbus’s Flight Hour Services (FHS) to support its entire A350 fleet.
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16 February, 2022
Singapore Airlines has finalised an order for seven Airbus A350F freighter aircraft.
Singapore Airlines (SIA) has finalised a purchase agreement with Airbus for seven A350F freighter aircraft. The order was signed at the Singapore Airshow by SIA CEO Goh Choong Phong, and Airbus Chief Commercial Officer and Head of International Christian Scherer.
The order firms up the carrier's commitment to the new generation freighter announced by the planemaker in December 2021. The newly ordered aircraft will replace the carrier’s existing 747-400F fleet from the fourth quarter of 2025.
“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,” said Goh Choon Phong, Chief Executive Officer, Singapore Airlines.
“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,” said Christian Scherer. “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. 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.”
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.
The A350F is based on the world’s most modern long-range passenger family. With a 109- tonne payload capability, the A350F will 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 will be made of advanced materials, resulting in a 30tonne lighter take-off weight and generating at least 20% lower fuel consumption and emissions over its current closest competitor. The A350F will fully meet ICAO’s enhanced CO₂ emissions standards coming into effect in 2027.
Singapore Airlines is the world’s largest operator of the A350, with 58 currently in service.
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20 December, 2021
CMA CGM Group firms up order for 4 Airbus A350F cargo aircraft.
The European aircraft and aerospace manufacturer, Airbus has confirmed today that the massive CMA CGM Group has firmed up its order for four Airbus A350F freighter aircraft. This new order will take the total Airbus fleet for one of the global leaders in shipping and logistics to nine aircraft, including four A330-200F and one A330-200 to be converted into a freighter.
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22 November, 2021
Airbus and CMA CGM Group sign for four A350F freighters
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.
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