Air France-KLM is Most Recent Addition to Freighter Clientele for Recently Introduced Aircraft

Air France has placed an order for a set of 4 brand new A350F freighters, closing a deal they had hinted at towards the end of 2021. 

The freighters will go to bolster the cargo capacity of Air France, allowing for more efficient and sustainable operations amid increasing demand. The A350F was introduced last year to the tune of 29 orders and commitments from a handful of customers, though Airbus feels confident that it will continue to accumulate demand as deliveries are made and the operational savings gain notice. The A350F sports a large main deck cargo door, and a fuselage length optimized for cargo operations, allowing for the highest running-loads in its segment around each pallet position. That loading flexibility allows for a range of CG management and superior loading flexibility, to the point that operators can use the full 6.8-ton limit for 20 of its 30 pallet positions, far more freedom compared to a comparable 777F which would only allow 6. Airbus cites the 777F as a target to beat when boasting their freighter's capability, noting that their aircraft offers 3 tons of payload and 11% more volume than the rival plane. Lower fuel burn and CO2 emissions help to provide it with bragging rights that Airbus says will be hard to beat even with any next-gen 777 freighter in the works. 

"Looking further ahead and further underscoring its ‘future-proof’ credentials," said Airbus in a release earlier this year. "The A350F will also hold its efficiency advantage over any future fourth-generation derivative of the 777F such as the proposed 777-8F, notably thanks to the A350’s clean-sheet design with advanced materials that allow the Airbus aircraft to perform like-for-like missions with around 28 tonnes lighter take-off weight than the 777F and between 32 and 46 tonnes less weight than the 777-8F."

That capability is plenty enticing for Air France, opting for the more domestic, homegrown European option. Airbus chief commercial officer Christian Scherer said the selection is a perfect fit.

“Airlines now have a choice, and we salute Air France joining those going for the A350F’s step change in efficiency and sustainability for the cargo operations of the future. We are gratified by the wave of early adopters who, like Air France, see the economics and environmental signature of the A350s as standing out versus alternatives, past, existing and future. Merci Air France," said Scherer in a statement regarding the deal. 

FMI: www.airbus.com