Etihad Airways Firms Up Order with Airbus for Seven A350 Freighters

(04 August 2022, 12:29 +07)  Etihad Airways has firmed up an order with Airbus for seven A350 Freighters.

In addition to having a high level of commonality with the A350 passenger versions, the A350F is powered by Rolls-Royce Trent XWB-97 engines, has a 109 tonne payload capability, a large main deck cargo door, and its fuselage length and capacity have been optimised around the industry’s standard pallets and containers.

As more than 70% of the aircraft's airframe is made of advanced materials, it has a 30-tonne lighter take-off weight and generates at least 20% lower fuel consumption and emissions than its current closest competitor.

Etihad Cargo A350F

“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,” said Christian Scherer, Chief Commercial Officer and Head of Airbus International. “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 order of the A350F sees the national carrier of the UAE adding to its existing order of the largest passenger version of A350-1000s, five of which have been delivered.

Etihad has also firmed up a long term agreement for Airbus’ Flight Hour Services (FHS) to support its entire A350 fleet. The deal marks the first agreement for an Airbus FHS contract for an A350-fleet in the Middle East.

Separately, Etihad has also opted for Airbus' Skywise Health Monitoring, allowing the airline to access real-time management of aircraft events and troubleshooting, saving time and decreasing the cost of unscheduled maintenance.

Tony Douglas, Group Chief Executive Officer, Etihad Aviation Group, 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.”

The A350F fully meets ICAO’s enhanced CO2 emissions standards coming into effect in 2027.

Latest exclusive video interviews: Future of Air Travel - Interview with Sumesh Patel, President of SITA Asia Pacific; Miss International Queen 2024 (MIQ 2024) - Interview with Alisa Phanthusak, MD, Tiffany's Show Pattaya, Thailand; 16 HD Video Interviews from Routes Europe 2024 in Aarhus, Denmark; 9 HD Video Interviews from Routes Asia 2024 in Langkawi, Malaysia; Standard to Open Residences in Hua Hin and Phuket, Thailand; Video Interview with Amar Lalvani, Executive Chairman; 9 Exclusive Video Interviews from ASEAN Tourism Forum 2024 in Vientiane, Laos; 8 NTO Press Conferences from ASEAN Tourism Forum 2024 in Vientiane, Laos; 13 HD Video Interviews from World Travel Market 2023 in London, England; 5 HD Video Interviews from APG World Connect 2023 in Monaco, France; and 15 HD Video Interviews from Routes World 2023 in Istanbul, Türkiye.