Air China Cargo makes A350F order official

Air China Cargo has signed a purchase agreement for six Airbus A350 freighters after revealing plans to order the new generation model at the end of October.

The cargo arm of Air China, which said last month it planned to initially order six of the aircraft with an option for four more, has become the first customer to order the A350F in the Chinese mainland. 

“The introduction of the A350F to our existing mixed cargo fleet contributes to efficiency in operation and maintenance. The A350F will enhance Air China Cargo’s capability to withstand risks in its long-term stable operation," said Wang Hongyan, vice president of Air China Cargo.

According to fleet tracking site Planespotters.net, Air China Cargo currently has a fleet of 24 freighters consisting of eight Airbus A330-200Fs, three Boeing 747-400Fs and 13 Boeing 777Fs.

The Beijing-headquartered airline operates all cargo aircraft in North China, East China, South China, and Southwest China. It also has 25 all-cargo routes to major regions around the world, including Asia-Pacific, Europe, the Americas and the Middle East. 

The A350F, which has a 111-ton capacity and a range of 8,700 km, will be delivered between 2029 and 2031. Currently, the assembly of test A350F aircraft at Airbus' Toulouse plant is underway. 

“We are delighted to welcome Air China Cargo as the latest customer for the A350F," said Benoît de Saint-Exupéry, Airbus executive vice president sales of the commercial aircraft business.

"The A350F will bring new generation efficiency and performance as well as new levels of capacity and unprecedented loading flexibility. We look forward to ensuring a seamless integration into Air China Cargo’s operation."

There is now a total of 80 A350F orders from 13 customers. Recently, Airbus has confirmed that MNG Airlines Cargo had purchased two A350 freighters, while while Korean Air has converted seven of an existing order for A350 passenger aircraft to the freighter model.