MNG’s A350F order is confirmed

Airbus’ orders and deliveries report for October has confirmed that MNG Airlines Cargo has purchased two A350 freighters.

Turkey-based MNG signed a memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for two A350Fs in June, during the Paris Air Show.

The official order is dated 2 October, which makes October a remarkable month for Airbus. At the end of the month Air China Cargo revealed plans (yet to be firmed up) to order six A350Fs with an option for four more, while Korean Air converted seven of an existing order for A350 passenger aircraft to the freighter model.

Airbus' gross orders for 2025 so far number 20. In total, there are now 12 customers with firm orders for 74 units.

There have been a total of eight cancellations this year, although Air France is still expected to remove one A350F from its order of four.

Airbus said the A350F features the largest main deck cargo door in the industry, can carry a payload of up to 111 tonnes and has a range of 8,700 km.

Despite previous delays, Airbus told Air Cargo News earlier this year that it is on track to begin delivering the A350F in the second half of 2027 and is keeping pace with its manufacturing schedule.

In May 2023, the company adjusted the entry into service date for the A350F from the end of 2025 to the first quarter of 2026.

Then in February this year, Airbus pushed back market entry to the second half of 2027.