Etihad Airways has today firmed an order for seven Airbus A350F Freighters, following an earlier commitment made as the Singapore Airshow. This order complements the carrier’s existing order for A350-1000 passenger aircraft, five of which have been delivered.
On Wednesday (August 3, 2022), Airbus announced that Etihad Airways has firmed an order for seven new generation A350F Freighters, following a commitment originally made at the Singapore Airshow. The new order expands the UAE’s national carrier’s relationship with Airbus, adding to their existing A350-1000 passenger aircraft order, five of which have already been delivered. Etihad has also firmed up a long term agreement for Airbus’ Flight Hour Services (FHS) to support their entire A350 fleet, to maintain aircraft performance and optimize reliability, marking the first FHS contract for an A350 fleet in the Middle East. Separately, Etihad has also opted for Airbus’ Skywise Health Monitoring, allowing the carrier to access real-time management of aircraft events and troubleshooting, thereby saving time and reducing the cost of unscheduled maintenance.
In today’s order announcement, Etihad Aviation Group’s Chief Executive Officer, Tony Douglas, said,
“In building one of the world’s youngest and most sustainable fleets, we are delighted to extend our long-term partnership with Airbus to add the A350 Freighter to our fleet. This additional cargo capacity will support the unprecedented growth we are experiencing in the Etihad Cargo division. Airbus has developed a remarkable fuel-efficient aircraft that, in tandem with the A350-1000 in our passenger fleet, supports our commitment to reaching net-zero carbon emissions by 2050.”
Also commenting on the A350F order, Airbus’ Chief Commercial Officer and Head of Airbus International, Christian Scherer, said,
“Airbus is delighted to extend its long standing partnership with Etihad Airways, who recently introduced the A350 passenger services and is continuing to build on the Family with the game-changing freighter version, the A350F. This new generation large freighter brings unprecedented and unmatched benefits in terms of range, fuel efficiency and CO₂ savings, that support customers by enhancing operational efficiencies at the same time as reducing environmental impact.”
The Airbus A350 Freighter offers a high level of commonality with the A350 Family passenger aircraft versions. The aircraft offers a 109 ton payload capacity, a large main deck cargo door, and a fuselage length optimized around industry-standard pallets and containers. Over 70 percent of the A350F is made of advanced materials, resulting in 30 ton lighter takeoff weight, and producing a reduction in fuel burn and emissions of at least 20 percent compared to its closest current competitor. Etihad’s new A350F Freighters will be powered by the latest technology, fuel-efficient Rolls-Royce Trent XWB-97 engines. Including today’s firm order, the Airbus A350F has won 31 orders to date from six customers.
Source: Airbus