UAE’s Etihad Airways to add Airbus’ latest A350F freighter to its fleet

Etihad Airways has signed a letter of intent to source seven A350F freighters from Airbus. These will join the airline’s existing fleet of five A350-1000 passenger versions. The announcement was made at the Singapore Airshow 2022, according to a statement from Airbus. Etihad has also selected Airbus’s Flight Hour Services to support its entire A350 fleet.

“Etihad is delighted to extend our relationship with Airbus to include this remarkable aircraft as part of our freighter fleet for the future,” said Tony Douglas, group CEO, Etihad Aviation Group.

He added: “As our cargo operations continue to overperform and we work towards a more sustainable future built upon the world’s youngest and most fuel-efficient fleet, the addition of the A350F will play a key role in driving our long-term cargo strategy and achieving our 2035 target to reduce carbon emissions by 50 per cent.”

Christian Scherer, chief commercial officer and head of International, Airbus, said the new generation large freighter “will be unmatched in its market segment in terms of range, fuel consumption and CO₂ savings”.

Aircraft specifications

As part of the modern long-range family of aircraft, the A350F has a lot in common with the A350 passenger versions. With a 109 tonne payload capability, the A350F can serve all cargo markets. The aircraft features a large main deck cargo door, with its fuselage length and capacity optimised around the industry’s standard pallets and containers.

More than 70 per cent of the airframe of the A350F is made of advanced materials, such as composites, titanium and modern aluminium alloys, resulting in a 30 tonne lighter take-off weight and generating at least 20 per cent lower fuel consumption and emissions over its current closest competitor. The A350F fully meets the International Civil Aviation Organisation’s enhanced carbon emissions standards, which will come into effect in 2027.

The A350F will be powered by the latest technology, fuel-efficient Rolls-Royce Trent XWB-97 engines.

So far, the A350F has won firm orders and commitments for 29 aircraft from five customers.