The Dubai Airshow has just come to an end and one model emerged victorious: the Airbus A350 freighter. The A350F received its first order during the show and was the site of further negotiations, one of which came to fruition just hours after the show closed.

CMA CGM Group and Airbus signed a binding memorandum of understanding for the purchase of four A350F freighter aircraft. The order, which is subject to finalization in the coming weeks, will bring CMA CGM’s total Airbus fleet to nine aircraft, including five A330-200Fs.

The aircraft will be operated by CMA CGM AIR CARGO, the CMA CGM Group’s recently launched air cargo division.

«We are proud to welcome CMA CGM AIR CARGO into the A350F operator group and are equally pleased to support the company’s future strategic development,» said Christian Scherer, Airbus Chief Commercial Officer and Head of Airbus International.

«The A350F will fit perfectly into the company’s existing fleet of Airbus freighters. Thanks to its composite airframe and state-of-the-art engines, it will bring unsurpassed efficiency in terms of fuel consumption, economy and CO₂ emissions, boosting the Group’s long-term sustainable growth.» Scherer adds, «Having the early backing of an international cargo powerhouse such as CMA CGM Group is very gratifying,» he concluded.

The A350F features a large main deck cargo door and a fuselage length optimized for cargo operations. More than 70% of the fuselage is made of advanced materials, resulting in a 30t lighter take-off weight, generating at least 20% lower fuel consumption than its nearest current competitor.

With a payload capacity of 109t (+3t payload/ 11% more volume than its competition), the A350F serves all cargo markets (Express, general cargo, special cargo…) and is, in the large freighter category, the only new-generation freighter aircraft ready for ICAO’s 2027 enhanced CO₂ emissions standards.

This new order fully impacts Boeing’s next-generation freighter project, the one to be created from the 777X, once certified and flying. In a context of booming air cargo, in addition to the A350F’s performance, the other decisive factor in winning orders is delivery time.

While the A350F promises a quick entry into service, the actual delivery time of the first 777X freighter is an unknown, mainly because it is not known when the first passenger aircraft will be delivered either. After years of delay, the 777X seems to be running from behind in a field in which it previously dominated unapologetically.