Overview
- Air China Cargo signed for four additional A350F freighters on May 26, raising its total to ten aircraft, and Cathay Group exercised purchase rights for two more on May 27 to bring its commitment to eight.
- Airbus says it has finished the first A350F main‑deck cargo door at Illescas, Spain and is building two flight‑test aircraft for 2026–2027, but it is still managing production disruptions tied to the cargo‑door that could affect schedules.
- The A350F is offered as a next‑generation freighter with up to about 111 tonnes payload and roughly 8,700 km range, Rolls‑Royce Trent XWB‑97 engines, and up to 20% lower fuel burn and CO2 versus previous‑generation types.
- Both carriers framed the orders as fleet optimisation moves to expand medium‑to‑long‑haul capacity, strengthen Hong Kong and Beijing hub connectivity, and support longer‑term decarbonisation goals.
- The follow‑on orders add to a programme that had passed 100 firm commitments by April 2026 and signal wider market endorsement, but stakeholders will watch whether Airbus keeps its target of first deliveries in 2027.