Etihad Airways is the latest airline to sign up for the freighter version of the Airbus A350.
The Abu Dhabi-based carrier signed a Letter of Intent (LoI)at the Singapore Airshow on February 16, 2022 for seven A350F freighters.
Etihad Airways already has five A350-1000 aircraft in its fleet.
“As our cargo operations continue to overperform and we work towards a more sustainable future built upon the world’s youngest and most fuel-efficient fleet, the addition of the A350F will play a key role in driving our long-term cargo strategy and achieving our 2035 target to reduce CO2 emissions by 50%,” Etihad Aviation Group CEO Tony Douglas said in a statement.
The Singapore Airshow runs February 15-18, 2022 and freighter orders were expected to be a feature of the show, driven by growth in the air cargo market as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Battling Airbus, Boeing will also be looking for customers for the newly announced freighter version of its 777X jet.
“We are pleased to sign this agreement with our long-standing partner Etihad, shortly before this most discerning airline also introduces A350 passenger service. Thank you Etihad for endorsing the game-changing nature of the new A350F,” commented Christian Scherer, Chief Commercial Officer and Head of International.
Singapore Airlines (SIA1) (SINGY) also firmed up an order for seven A350F aircraft at the show. The Singaporean flag carrier is set to be the first airline to fly the new freighter variant of the long-haul aircraft. The A350F will be powered by Rolls-Royce Trent XWB-97 engines.
