Etihad to exercise options for three additional A350Fs
28 / 11 / 2024
A350F Etihad Cargo. Photo: Airbus
Etihad Cargo has confirmed that it will exercise options on three additional Airbus A350 freighters.
In an emailed statement to Air Cargo News, the carrier confirmed a report in Freightwaves that it would add to its additional order of seven of the aircraft to meet rising e-commerce demand.
The airline currently operates a fleet of five Boeing 777 freighters, but it also has five A350 passenger aircraft so is familiar with the type.
The additional three aircraft would bring total orders of the model to 58.
“The growing demand for freighters and air cargo capacity is driven primarily by booming exports from China and Hong Kong, particularly in e-commerce,” a statement read.
“The high-tech industry has also been propelled by the development and implementation of AI microchips for smartphones, with strong market potential expected by the end of the year.”
The carrier first announced its intention to order the aircraft at the Singapore Airshow in February 2022, with the deal firmed up later that year.
The 111 tonne capacity aircraft features a large maindeck cargo door, with its fuselage length and capacity optimised around the industry’s standard pallets and containers.
The A350F fully meets ICAO’s enhanced CO₂ emissions standards that will come into effect in 2027 and will be powered by Rolls-Royce Trent XWB-97 engines.
Entry into service for the cargo jet, powered by Rolls-Royce Trent XWB engines, is scheduled for 2026, pushed back from the end of 2025.
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.
Airbus expects final assembly activity for the A350F to commence next year. The airframer’s French and German aerostructures operations – Airbus Atlantic and Airbus Aerostructures – are manufacturing the initial large sections of the cargo aircraft.
Etihad Airways firms up order for seven Airbus A350F freighters
