SINGAPORE, Feb 20 — Aircraft manufacturer Airbus forecasts demand for around 400 wide-body freighters in the Asia-Pacific (APAC) region over the next 20 years, including new builds and conversions as the region continues demonstrating robust economic growth and dynamic trade activities.
Airbus’ freighter marketing head Crawford Hamilton said this represents over 25 per cent of global demand for 1,490 wide-body freight aircraft in the above-40-tonne segment.
“With Apac set to become the largest region for international trade over the next two decades, the new A350F, with its step change in efficiency, market-matched capacity and range, is perfectly tailored to improve the operations of carriers by meeting diverse cargo demands while leading the charge towards a more sustainable future in air freight,” he said during the Airbus freighter market update at the Singapore Airshow 2024 today.
Hamilton said the company is well placed to meet a strong share of this demand with the all-new A350F that optimises for ease of loading and operation on cargo.
“At the moment, we are now in the stage of testing the environmental control system, main deck control loading system (CLS) control panels and software,” he said, adding the A350F is the lightest large wide-body freighter aircraft.
Airbus is geared up to have the first flight-ready by the end of 2025, and the first delivery is set to kick in 2026.
“Set to enter service in 2026, assembly of the first A350F fuselage sections is set to commence in the coming months, in line with the aircraft’s production time frame,” Hamilton explained.
The latest generation A350 family has won over 1,200 orders from 57 customers worldwide, including 50 for the A350F from nine leading cargo airlines, and the mid-size category A330neo family continues to gain momentum, with nearly 300 firm orders from 28 customers.
The new model will reduce fuel consumption and carbon emissions by up to 40 per cent compared with the previous generation 747F and is the first freighter offered today that will meet International Civil Aviation Organisation enhanced carbon dioxide (CO2) emission standards in 2027, he said.
The biennial commercial and defence-focused Singapore Airshow, in which over 1,000 companies from over 50 countries participate, is held from February 20 to February 25 at the Changi Exhibition Centre.
— Bernama
