Dutch Cargo Line Makes the Jump to the Modern Era

The Air France-KLM Group ordered 4 A350F freighters for their subsidiary Martinair.

The aircraft will be operated by Martinair Holland N.V., a Dutch cargo airline headquartered and based in Amsterdam Schiphol airport. The new planes will let the line retire its aging freighters and make the jump to a modern, efficient, and updated fleet of widebody aircraft. Martinair appreciates the features embedded in the A350F, from its long-legged range and high capacity cargo compartments to its lower fuel economy and emissions. The freighter offers operators an option with only 80% of the fuel burn of legacy freighters of comparable size and weight. Perhaps better for forward-looking buyers, the model sports equally impressive cuts to carbon output, helping provide a measure of future-proofing against upcoming legislation. Airbus is careful to note that the A350F sports a 190-tonne payload, about 3 tonnes greater than its competition. Aside from that, its widebody construction offers 11% greater interior volume for capacious cargo carriage.

“We are delighted to make this major step forward to the A350F. It accelerates Air France KLM Martinair Cargo sustainability ambitions with significant improvement on fuel emissions and complying with most stringent ICAO Chapter 14 for noise and CAEP 8 for NOx. We are fit for the future!” said Adriaan den Heijer, Executive Vice President Air France KLM Cargo and Managing Director Martinair.

“Another A350F endorsement, and a great one too! We are delighted to see the A350F enter the KLM/Martinair world, confirming the relevance this most modern high capacity long range cargo aircraft brings to the airfreight segment. I am very pleased with the way our program is taking off. With 50% less noise, and 40% less fuel burn and CO2 emissions compared to the previous generation aircraft it is replacing, that is hardly a surprise! We thank Air France-KLM Group for their continued confidence.” said Christian Scherer, Airbus Chief Commercial Officer and Head of Airbus International.

FMI: www.airbus.com