Etihad Airways placed an order for seven A350F freighters of the newest generation, according to Airbus.
The national airline of the UAE has added 20 A350-1000s, the largest passenger version of the A350, to its current order, which was confirmed on August 3, 2022. Five of the planes have already been handed out.
A long-term arrangement for Airbus’ Flight Hour Services (FHS) was also finalized as part of the transaction, and as a result, the manufacturer will be responsible for the efficiency and dependability of the entire airline’s A350 fleet.
In order to save time and money on unscheduled aircraft maintenance work, the carrier also chose Airbus’ Skywise Health Monitoring tool, which will give Etihad access to real-time control of plane occurrences and troubleshooting.
“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 chief executive Tony Douglas was cited as saying in the manufacturer’s statement.
“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 CEO added.
The A350F, which can carry 109 tons of cargo, is devoted to serving all cargo markets worldwide, according to Airbus. The cargo aircraft has a sizable main deck cargo door, and its length and capacity are optimized to load pallets and containers that are common in the sector.
The manufacturer claims that more than 70% of the A350F airframe is made of advanced materials, “resulting in a 30 tonne lighter take-off weight and generating at least 20% lower fuel consumption and emissions over its current closest competitor”.
Powered by Rolls-Royce Trent XWB-97 engines, the A350F freighter consumes around 20% less fuel and generates fewer cargo emissions. “The A350F fully meets ICAO’s enhanced CO₂ emissions standards coming into effect in 2027,” Airbus added.
According to the manufacturer’s orders and delivery list, Airbus has received a total of 31 solid orders from six different clients.
Etihad Airways presently has five Airbus A350-1000 passenger version aircraft in its fleet, according to data from Planespotters.com.
