Airbus A350

Finnair modifies A350 weight threshold to carry more cargo around Russia

A simple modification of the manufacturer’s weight specifications is allowing Finnair to carry 9 tons of extra cargo and passengers on A350 twin-aisle jets on key Asia routes forced to detour around Russia because of the Ukraine war.

Finland’s flag carrier said last month it had modified 10 of its 17 A350s to increase capacity on two of its longest international routes.

The carrier worked with Airbus to increase the maximum takeoff weight for aircraft that regularly serve Tokyo and Seoul, South...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/finnair-modifies-a350-weight-threshold-to-carry-more-cargo-around-russia

Air France-KLM doubles order for Airbus A350 freighters

Air France-KLM said Friday it will order four additional A350 widebody freighters from Airbus. 

The planes will be operated by subsidiary cargo airline Martinair on behalf of Dutch carrier KLM and will replace four Boeing 747 cargo jets currently operated by KLM Cargo and Martinair. The planes will be based at Amsterdam Schiphol Airport, the company said.

Deliveries to Air France-KLM-Martinair are expected in the second half of 2026.

Last April, Air France-KLM finalized an order for four A350...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/air-france-klm-doubles-order-for-airbus-a350-freighters

Silk Way West Airlines orders A350 freighters in Airbus pivot

Rendering of a large cargo jet flying above the clouds. Plane is white with blue tail and has Silk Way West Airlines logo on it.

Silk Way West Airlines, an all-cargo carrier based in Azerbaijan, placed an order with Airbus on Tuesday for two A350 large freighters, moving from an exclusive Boeing fleet for the first time. 

The decision is another win for Airbus as it makes its first serious challenge to Boeing’s dominance in the production freighter market. With the Silk Way West deal Airbus now has 33 preliminary orders and commitments for the A350 freighter program it launched late last year. Air France, Air Lease Corp.,...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/silk-way-west-airlines-orders-a350-freighters-in-airbus-pivot

Airbus locks in Air-France KLM order for new A350 freighter

A white Air France-KLM Cargo jet against a blue sky with clouds. The airline is one of the new customers for the A350 freighter.

Air France-KLM on Monday confirmed it will move ahead with an order for four A350 large freighters, the new aircraft Airbus brought to market late last year to challenge Boeing in the manufacture of cargo jets. 

Air France-KLM, has an option for four additional aircraft, said the A350 freighters are needed to meet growing demand for cargo lift. They will be based at Paris-Charles de Gaulle Airport, where Air France-KLM has a 150,000-square-foot global cargo hub. The airline currently operates...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/airbus-locks-in-air-france-klm-order-for-new-a350-freighter

Western Global Airlines orders 2 Boeing 777-8 freighters

A white plane with blue Western Global lettering flies above white clouds.

Boeing and Airbus on Wednesday issued dueling announcements about new customers for their respective next-generation large freighter programs.

Boeing (NYSE: BA) said that Western Global Airlines has placed a firm order for two of the manufacturer’s new 777-8 freighters. Airbus said Etihad Airways signed a letter of intent for seven of its all-new A350 widebody freighters and that Singapore Airlines had locked in a tentative order for seven A350 cargo jets.

It is the first time that Estero,...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/western-global-airlines-orders-2-boeing-777-8-freighters

Singapore Airlines to replace 747 freighter fleet with Airbus A350

Rendering of a Singapore Airlines Cargo jet in blue sky.

Singapore Airlines has signed a preliminary commitment with Airbus for seven of its new A350 large freighter aircraft to begin replacing the cargo division’s existing Boeing 747-400 fleet in the fourth quarter of 2025, the companies announced Wednesday.

Singapore Airlines Cargo operates seven 747 all-cargo aircraft. It also manages and processes cargo carried in the belly of the airline’s passenger fleet. 

Singapore Airlines is the world’s largest operator of the A350, with 56 aircraft currently...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/singapore-airlines-to-replace-747-freighter-fleet-with-airbus-a350

Ocean carrier CMA CGM orders A350 cargo jets from Airbus

White jet with CMA CGM logo. Plane parked.

Airbus on Friday landed ocean shipping and logistics giant CMA CGM as the second customer for its new freighter version of the popular A350 twin-aisle passenger aircraft as competition for dedicated cargo jets heats up to meet global shipping demand.

The European airframer said CMA CGM, which launched a cargo airline in March to diversify its business and better control capacity for its CEVA Logistics unit, has signed a preliminary sales agreement to buy four A350 all-cargo aircraft. The deal is...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/ocean-carrier-cma-cgm-orders-a350-cargo-jets-from-airbus

Airbus A350 leads spate of new orders for factory, converted freighters

A Cathay Pacific A350 passenger jet takes off.

A flurry of new orders for converted and new-build freighters since Friday, as well as Boeing’s decision to establish more production lines to retrofit used passenger planes to carry cargo containers, further demonstrates investor confidence in the long-term growth prospects for air cargo.

Air Lease Corp. (NYSE: AL) announced at the Dubai Air Show that it will be the launch customer for Airbus’ large A350 freighter with an initial order for seven planes. Boeing said Emirates cargo division is...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/airbus-a350-leads-spate-of-new-orders-for-factory-converted-freighters

Delta Air Lines to lease 7 cargo-friendly A350s

A white Delta jet takes off with wheels still down.

U.S. mainline carriers are rebounding faster than others around the world, and investments in new aircraft are a sign they see recovery in their future. On Tuesday, Delta Air Lines (NYSE: DAL) announced long-term leases for seven Airbus A350-900 twin-aisle jets and the purchase of 29 used Boeing 737-900 Extended Range aircraft as travel demand picks up after a year of lockdowns and restrictions because of COVID.

The 36 aircraft fit with management’s strategy of streamlining and modernizing the...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/delta-air-lines-to-lease-7-cargo-friendly-a350s

Asiana reconfigures A350 passenger cabin with Airbus cargo pallet system

Boxes being loaded in overhead bins and on floor of passenger plane with no seats.

South Korea’s Asiana Airlines is the first airline to modify an A350 twin-aisle plane with a mini-pallet system developed by Airbus (CXE: AIR) to increase the efficiency of cabin loading amid a supply shortage for cargo airlift.

Engineers removed 283 seats and installed the cargo pallet system on the floor to firmly secure cargo loads, increasing cargo capacity by 5 metric tons to 23 tons, Airbus said in a recent news release. The process also includes the removal of in-flight entertainment...

https://s29755.pcdn.co/news/asiana-reconfigures-a350-passenger-cabin-with-new-airbus-cargo-pallet-system

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