‍BEIJING — Air China (CA) plans to order up to 10 Airbus A350 Freighter aircraft. The airline initially plans to order six of the aircraft, with an option for four more, with the latest date to exercise the option being the end of 2026.

The original source for Air China Cargo's A350 Freighter order plan is a notification to the Shenzhen stock exchange, as reported by FlightGlobal in its article, "Air China Cargo discloses A350 Freighter plan."

”This transaction aligns with the company’s development plan and market demand, and will help optimise the company’s fleet structure and long-term capacity replenishment,” the company said in the stock exchange announcement.

Currently, according to planespotters.net, Chinese cargo carriers operate a fleet consisting of six Airbus A330‑300Fs, three Boeing 747‑400Fs, and thirteen Boeing 777Fs. The induction of new, fuel-efficient A350Fs will help reduce costs and emissions. These new aircraft will most likely replace the older Boeing 747s, which have an average age of 23.4 years.

Airbus A350 Freighter

The Airbus A350F is the cargo version of the popular Airbus A350 passenger aircraft. The freighter has a Maximum Takeoff Weight (MTOW) of 109 metric tons and a range of approximately 8,700 km. Although the aircraft is still in development, Airbus recently received the type’s first fuselage, indicating steady progress in the program. 

Despite facing delays, the A350F continues to accumulate orders, reflecting strong customer confidence. The program has currently secured approximately 66 orders, compared to its competitor, the Boeing 777‑8F, which has also experienced repeated delays and has accumulated slightly fewer orders—59 airframes to date. Airbus expects the freighter to enter commercial service in 2027.

Challenging Boeing’s Freighter Dominance

For decades, Boeing has dominated the cargo market with its 747‑400F and 777F freighters, prized by airlines worldwide for reliability and long-range capabilities. The 777‑8F, Boeing’s latest freighter, promises improved fuel efficiency but has faced repeated delays.

Airbus aims to carve out a foothold in this competitive market with the A350F, offering modern technology, lower operating costs, and better fuel efficiency than older models.