Atlas Air Worldwide Holding (Atlas) has got out the cheque book, placing a direct order with Airbus.
Atlas has signed a firm order for 20 Airbus A350F freighters. According to Airbus, the order is the largest ever placed for the latest generation A350F and makes Atlas the biggest customer of the type.
The A350F aircraft will be deployed for growth. As a leading outsourced aviation logistics company, Atlas is positioned to bring the A350F’s next-generation performance to global operators across a wide variety of business models and markets, supporting its existing fleet made up of Boeing 747s, 777s, and 767s.
Deliveries are expected to begin in 2029 and be completed in 2034.
In Quotes
Michael Steen, Chief Executive Officer, Atlas Air Worldwide and Benoit de Saint- Exupéry, Executive Vice President Sales, Commercial Aircraft, Airbus, at the March 16 signing ceremony at Airbus in Toulouse, France.
Michael Steen, Chief Executive Officer, Atlas Air Worldwide.
“We are proud to become the largest customer for the Airbus A350F, securing early delivery positions for this next-generation widebody freighter platform,” said
“This order reflects our commitment to maintaining the industry’s most modern and fuel-efficient widebody freighter fleet to best service existing and new customers worldwide. The A350F is a highly capable, reliable platform, with incremental payload and range benefits, and a strong sustainability profile. We are pleased to add Airbus and Rolls-Royce to our supplier base of leading aircraft and engine manufacturers, offering us optionality and supporting our global operations and continued growth.”
He added
“As retirements of older widebody freighters accelerate, the large widebody freighter market will remain constrained, with limited new capacity entering the market,”
“This strategic investment reinforces our long-term confidence in global airfreight demand, and positions Atlas to meet that demand and support future growth.”
Lars Wagner, CEO Commercial Aircraft at Airbus.
“We are excited to welcome Atlas Air Worldwide, a global leader of the air cargo industry, to the Airbus family,”
“Atlas Air’s selection of the latest generation A350F – the first in the US – represents a pivotal moment, cementing the A350F’s position as the preferred true all new-generation freighter for the world’s most demanding cargo operators. We very much look forward to seeing it flying in Atlas’ colours.”
Breaking from Boeing
For Atlas Air, it’s a breakaway from Boeing, which they have been a loyal customer of since operations commenced, and with the introduction of the Airbus A350F, it will mark the first time the airline has operated an Airbus freighter aircraft.
With a mixture of aircraft and the stated use to expand its operations, 20 new aircraft are going to make a big dent in its operations and how it flies its fleet.
We’ll have to see where they fly them, when the first ones are delivered in 2029.
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