Airbus hikes payload specification for A350 freighter
European manufacturer Airbus has increased the payload capacity of its new A350F from 109 tons to 111 tons.
Florent Massou, senior vice president of widebody programs, revealed this figure during a briefing on Wednesday, Flight Global reported.
The new freighter was launched at the end of 2021 and has so far received 39 firm orders. It is expected to enter service in 2026.
“We have made so much progress on the design that we can now add 2 tons more, which will mean more revenue for the airlines and greater overall efficiency of the platform,” says Massou.
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He added that the increased payload will enable the aircraft to make a “bigger difference” compared to competing models.
Massou says the A350F will offer an alternative to Boeing’s monopoly in the next-generation freighter sector.
According to Massou, Airbus is designing the aircraft in collaboration with its customers to address “more than 75 pain points” that freighter operators have had to contend with.
“The A350 freighter will solve the reality that airlines have been facing for years,” Massou said.
Among the aircraft’s features will be a 175-inch (4.44 m) wide main deck cargo door, larger than the 146-inch door on the Boeing 777F.
“It is the widest door on the market,” says Massou. “No other product can compare to the A350F door.
“Having a large door allows for much easier operations when it comes to loading the aircraft, when it comes to having some difficult packages that you want to get on your apron.”
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