Etihad adds new freighters

Etihad Airways has firmed up its order with Airbus for seven new generation A350F freighters.

This order of the A350F sees the national carrier of the UAE expanding its relationship with Airbus, and adding to its existing order of the largest passenger version of A350-1000s, five of which have been delivered.

“This additional cargo capacity will support the unprecedented growth we are experiencing in the Etihad Cargo division,” said Tony Douglas, group CEO of Etihad Aviation Group.

“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.”

Service agreements

Etihad has also firmed up a long term agreement for Airbus’ Flight Hour Services (FHS) to support its entire A350 fleet, to maintain aircraft performance and optimise reliability. This 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.

With a 109 tonne payload capability, the A350F  has a large main deck cargo door, with its fuselage length and capacity designed for the industry’s standard pallets and containers. 

More than 70 percent of the airframe of the A350F is made of advanced materials, resulting in a 30 tonne lighter take-off weight and generating at least 20 percent lower fuel consumption and emissions over its current closest competitor. It meets ICAO’s enhanced CO₂ emissions standards coming into effect in 2027. The A350F will be powered by Rolls-Royce Trent XWB-97 engines.

Including the Etihad order, six customers have committed to buying 31 of the freighters.