Airbus announced an increase in the A350F payload capacity from that initially disclosed in 2021. It will grow from 109 to 111 tonnes, company officials said in a briefing.
See also: Airbus revenues down in Q1 2023, A350F entry into service delayed
Airbus A350F payload capacity increases
“We have made so much progress on the design that we can now add an additional two tonnes of capacity for more revenue with the airlines and more efficiency overall with the platform”, said Florent Massou, head of the manufacturer’s widebodies programme.
He said the increased payload capacity will allow the model to make a “bigger difference” to aircraft that will naturally become its competitors in that segment.
In this regard, Massou said Airbus is seeking to address a number of issues that cargo operators highlight as important to optimise their activities.
The A350F in figures
One of the main features of the new freighter will be its 175-inch (4.44-metre) wide main deck cargo door. According to the manufacturer, it will be able to carry 111 tonnes of payload with a range of 7.500 kilometres. More than 70% of the fuselage will be made of advanced materials, enabling weight reduction and greater operational efficiency.
These features will reduce carbon dioxide emissions from operations compared to cargo aircraft currently in service. It will also have a significantly lower noise impact.
Furthermore, as a variant of a currently active type, it will provide flexibility to its customers, who will be able to deploy crews and ground equipment that currently operate A350-900s and A350-1000s.
Since the launch of the A350F programme, Airbus has accumulated firm orders for a total of 39 aircraft. The first customers will include Air Lease Corporation, Etihad Airways, Singapore Airlines, Air France, CMA-CGM, Martinair and Silk Way West Airlines. It is scheduled to enter service in 2026.
See also: Air France-KLM orders another three Airbus A350-900 and four A350F, to join Martinair’s fleet
