Cathay Group will be adding further Airbus A350s to its fleet – in the form of the cargo variant, the A350F.
The aircraft will operate under the group’s cargo division – Cathay Cargo. This order covers the purchase agreement for six aircraft.
The A350F is currently under development. It is planned to carry a payload of up to 111 tonnes and fly up to 4,700 nautical miles / 8,700 kilometres at a lower cost than current freighters. This will enable it to serve all heavy cargo markets, including the world’s biggest freight route between Hong Kong and Anchorage.
In Quotes
Cathay Group Chief Executive Officer Ronald Lam said:
“As we move into 2024, our rebuild journey is gaining momentum. This order marks another major component in our investment for the future. It reflects Cathay’s confidence in the Hong Kong hub as we look ahead to the opportunities provided by the Three-Runway System.”
“These highly fuel-efficient, next-generation freighters will provide important additional cargo capacity, expand our global network and contribute to our sustainability leadership goals.”
Christian Scherer, Airbus Chief Commercial Officer and Head of International said:
“There’s a new standard in the cargo space and we are gratified that such a savvy global air-cargo operator as Cathay has joined the growing number of reference players in the air-freight industry endorsing the A350F.”
“The aircraft will fit seamlessly with Cathay’s existing A350 passenger fleet, while lowering operating costs to a level never before seen in increasingly competitive cargo markets. At the same time, it will bring a very significant reduction in carbon emissions, contributing immediately to sustainability goals.”
Welcoming further Airbus A350s
Cathay Group is already one of the largest operators of the A350, with a current fleet of 47 aircraft. These include the A350-900 and A350-1000, primarily operated on the carrier’s long-haul route network via Cathay Pacific.
With the A350F planned to fly with Rolls-Royce Trent-XWB97 engines, the aircraft will bring a reduction in fuel consumption and carbon emissions of up to 40% when compared with the older 747F – something important as airlines seek to reduce emissions, along with a 46-tonne lighter take-off weight.
It marks the 2nd Asisan airline to have taken the A350F – and it seems this interest is only going to grow in the type.
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