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Airbus widens order lead over Boeing for next-gen freighter jets

Korean Air converts portion of A350 order from passenger to cargo aircraft

Eric Kulisch
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A computer-generated image shows an Airbus A350F in the Korean Air livery. (Image: Airbus)
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Key Takeaways:

  • Korean Air has switched its order for seven Airbus A350-1000 passenger aircraft to the new A350 freighter variant.
  • This conversion adds to Airbus's growing order book for the A350F, now totaling 78 commitments.
  • The A350F is a next-generation freighter featuring advanced materials, the industry's largest main deck cargo door, and promises significant reductions in fuel consumption and emissions.
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Korean Air, the sixth largest cargo airline in the world by traffic carried, has switched its order for seven Airbus A350-1000 passenger aircraft to the all-new A350 freighter variant, the European aerospace manufacturer announced Friday.

The order follows news earlier this week that Air China’s cargo subsidiary intends to order six A350 freighter aircraft. Airbus has now secured 78 orders for the A350F, which is scheduled for first delivery in late 2027. Boeing, by comparison, has received commitments for more than 50 of its next-generation widebody freighter, the 777-8. 

Korean Air has ordered a total of 33 A350 aircraft. This now comprises 20 A350-1000s, seven A350Fs and six A350-900s, of which the first two have already been delivered.

Korean Air’s cargo fleet currently comprises four Boeing 747-400 freighters, seven B747-8 freighters, and twelve B777-200 freighters. 

The A350F features the largest main deck cargo door in the industry. Over 70% of the airframe is made of advanced materials, resulting in a 50 ton lighter take-off weight than Boeing’s derivative, according to Airbus. 

Currently under development, the A350F can carry a payload of up to 122 tons and will fly up to 4,700 nautical miles. Powered by the latest Rolls-Royce Trent XWB-97 engines, the aircraft will reduce fuel consumption and carbon emissions of up to 40% when compared to previous generation aircraft with a similar payload-range capability, Airbus says. 

Korean Air achieved $746.5 million in cargo revenue during the third quarter, a decrease of 4.7% year over year, due to the slowdown in global airfreight demand and increased tariff risk.

Click here for more FreightWaves/American Shipper stories by Eric Kulisch.

Write to Eric Kulisch at ekulisch@freightwaves.com.

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Eric Kulisch

Eric is the Parcel and Air Cargo Editor at FreightWaves. An award-winning business journalist with extensive experience covering the logistics sector, Eric spent nearly two years as the Washington, D.C., correspondent for Automotive News, where he focused on regulatory and policy issues surrounding autonomous vehicles, mobility, fuel economy and safety. He has won two regional Gold Medals and a Silver Medal from the American Society of Business Publication Editors for government and trade coverage, and news analysis. He was voted best for feature writing and commentary in the Trade/Newsletter category by the D.C. Chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists. He was runner up for News Journalist and Supply Chain Journalist of the Year in the Seahorse Freight Association's 2024 journalism award competition. In December 2022, Eric was voted runner up for Air Cargo Journalist. He won the group's Environmental Journalist of the Year award in 2014 and was the 2013 Supply Chain Journalist of the Year. As associate editor at American Shipper Magazine for more than a decade, he wrote about trade, freight transportation and supply chains. He has appeared on Marketplace, ABC News and National Public Radio to talk about logistics issues in the news. Eric is based in Vancouver, Washington. He can be reached for comments and tips at ekulisch@freightwaves.com Eric is the Parcel and Air Cargo Editor at FreightWaves. An award-winning business journalist with extensive experience covering the logistics sector, Eric spent nearly two years as the Washington, D.C., correspondent for Automotive News, where he focused on regulatory and policy issues surrounding autonomous vehicles, mobility, fuel economy and safety. He has won two regional Gold Medals and a Silver Medal from the American Society of Business Publication Editors for government and trade coverage, and news analysis. He was voted best for feature writing and commentary in the Trade/Newsletter category by the D.C. Chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists. He was runner up for News Journalist and Supply Chain Journalist of the Year in the Seahorse Freight Association's 2024 journalism award competition. In December 2022, Eric was voted runner up for Air Cargo Journalist. He won the group's Environmental Journalist of the Year award in 2014 and was the 2013 Supply Chain Journalist of the Year. As associate editor at American Shipper Magazine for more than a decade, he wrote about trade, freight transportation and supply chains. He has appeared on Marketplace, ABC News and National Public Radio to talk about logistics issues in the news. Eric is based in Vancouver, Washington. He can be reached for comments and tips at ekulisch@freightwaves.com Eric is based in Vancouver, Washington. He can be reached for comments and tips at ekulisch@freightwaves.com