TOULOUSE, FRANCE —Airbus A350 Freighter ups payload capability, set to disrupt Boeing's monopoly.
Airbus has increased the payload capacity of the A350 freighter from 109 tons to 111 tons, according to Florent Massou, senior vice-president for widebody programs.
Massou announced the increased figure during a briefing on June 14. The new aircraft program, which was unveiled towards the end of 2021, has so far received 39 confirmed orders and is set to enter service in 2026.
“With the design progressing so well, we can already add an additional 2 tons, allowing for increased revenues for airlines and overall platform efficiency,” Massou stated.
He noted that the increase in payload capacity will allow the aircraft to outperform competing models to a greater extent.
Massou asserts that the A350F will provide a viable alternative to Boeing's monopoly in the new-build freighter sector.
In designing the aircraft, Airbus is working closely with customers to address over 75 challenges freighter operators have typically encountered.
“The A350 freighter will address the issues they've faced for years,” Massou insists.
One key feature of the aircraft will be a main-deck cargo door measuring 175 inches (4.44m) wide, which is larger than the 146-inch door on the Boeing 777F, the Israel Aerospace Industries 777 conversion, as well as the 160-inch door of Mammoth Freighters’ modified 777.
“This is the widest door on the market,” Massou says. “No other product can compare to the door of the A350F. A larger door simplifies loading operations and the fitting of larger packages into the platform.”
