Air China Cargo has outlined plans to order up to 10 Airbus A350 Freighters, in a deal valued at up to $4.65 billion at list prices.
Disclosed in a notification to the Shenzhen stock exchange, Air China Cargo says the commitment will consist of six firm orders plus four options. Deliveries are scheduled to run over the 2029-2031 period.
Although already approved by the carrier’s board, its shareholders still have to approve the order via a vote at its annual general meeting on 14 November.
Air China Cargo says the commitment is “in line with the company’s development plan and market demand and is conducive to optimising the company’s fleet structure and long-term capacity replenishment.
“It will build a large- and medium-sized freighter capacity structure that meets market and customer needs and is conducive to long-term stable operation.”
Should the order proceed, it will be a welcome boost for the A350F programme, replacing cancelled or reduced commitments this year from Air Lease and Air France-KLM, which cut a total of nine aircraft from the backlog.
At the end of September, Airbus held firm orders for 65 A350Fs, including a 10-unit commitment unveiled at June’s Paris air show from Saudi Arabian lessor Avilease.
Airbus expects to deliver the first Rolls-Royce Trent XWB-97-powered freighter in the second half of 2027. An initial test aircraft is currently in final assembly in Toulouse.
