Airbus Anticipates Robust Demand Within the Asia-Pacific Freight Market

Our Bureau - : Feb 20, 2024 - : 3:54 pm

Amidst the Asia-Pacific (APAC) region's ongoing robust economic growth and active trade dynamics, Airbus projects a demand for approximately 400 widebody freighters in the area over the next two decades, encompassing both new builds and conversions. This forecast represents over...

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Speaking at the Singapore Airshow 2024, Crawford Hamilton, Head of Freighter Marketing at Airbus, expressed the company's readiness to address a significant portion of this demand with the introduction of the A350F.

“As the world’s only all-new freighter, the A350F will be a step change in efficiency in competitive cargo markets,” he said. “It will bring a reduction in fuel consumption and carbon emissions of up to 40% compared with the previous generation 747F and is the first freighter offered today that will meet ICAO’s enhanced CO₂ emissions standards in 2027.”

With a range of up to 4,700 nautical miles (8,700 kilometers) with lower operating costs compared to existing freighters, the A350F is poised to cater to major cargo routes, including the prominent Hong Kong to Anchorage route.

Boasting a payload capacity of up to 111 tonnes and featuring the industry's largest main deck cargo door, the A350F offers enhanced flexibility for transporting large engines, owing to its 15% wider main deck cargo door compared to competitors. Additionally, the aircraft's airframe is composed of advanced materials, resulting in a significantly lighter take-off weight of 46 tonnes compared to competing derivatives.

"With APAC set to become the largest region for international trade over the next two decades, the A350F, with its step change in efficiency, market-matched capacity, and range, it is perfectly tailored to improve the operations of the carriers, by meeting diverse cargo demands while leading the charge towards a more sustainable future in air freight," remarked Crawford Hamilton.

Scheduled for entry into service in 2026, the assembly of the initial A350F fuselage sections is slated to commence in the forthcoming months in alignment with the aircraft's production schedule.