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25. April 2021

Airbus eyes A350-950F production freighter

The European aircraft maker’s attempts to produce factory-built production freighters were a long time ago. The last initiative, rolled out at the end of the first decade of this century, was an Airbus A330-200F of which only 30 units were sold. Since then, the Airbus freighter program has remained dormant. Until now, as the manufacturer has come up with plans to build a freighter variant of its successful passenger aircraft, the A350.

Currently, the salespeople of Airbus are doing a lot of door-to-door canvassing. Their aim is to find airlines interested in ordering the projected A350-950 freighter, and to win a launch customer for this aircraft. If this works out, which should be favored by the continuing highs in global air freight, the European aircraft manufacturer would, for the first time in decades, be competing directly with its U.S. arch-rival, Boeing, in the segment of factory-built production freighters. For incomprehensible reasons, they have, until now, left this field wide open to Boeing’s mostly successful models from B757F to B747-8F. At least in the segment of the A350 and its competitor, the B777, there are now signs that Boeing’s monopoly in freighter production will be partially overcome.  

Powered by RR Trent
Regarding the specifications of the future A350-950F, this is what is known so far: The aircraft will most likely combine structural elements of the passenger A350-900 and A350-1000. According to "Aviation Week," Airbus plans to stretch the "A350-950F" by 3.35 meters to 70.10 meters, compared to its A350-900 model. This enlargement will become necessary to integrate a new intermediate segment in the front fuselage equipped with a cargo door. Hence, the new freighter would be a bit longer than its sibling, the A350-900, but 3.70 meters shorter compared to the slightly larger A350-1000. Two Trent XWB-97 Rolls Royce turbines would power the jetliner, similar to the pax variant A-1000. These engines will meet the stricter emissions regulations coming into force in 2028.

Compared to the pax A350-900 illustrated here, a fuselage section would be added to a freighter version equipped with a large cargo door  -  courtesy: Airbus
Compared to the pax A350-900 illustrated here, a fuselage section would be added to a freighter version equipped with a large cargo door - courtesy: Airbus

Will Boeing hit back?
Concerning the investment, experts speak of 3 billion USD to develop the freighter. The aircraft could uplift 80+ tons. Whether it will match the nonstop range of its sister model A350-900, which Airbus says is 15,860 km, will be clear once the concept design is available and made public by the manufacturer.
If the aircraft has the potential to become a bestseller, remains to be seen. According to market outlooks presented by both Airbus and Boeing, the European producer expects demand for 350 production freighters of this segment within the next 20 years, while the U.S. frame maker speaks of a potential of even 450 freighters.


Meanwhile, Boeing is also projecting a new all-cargo aircraft based on the B777-8F, company sources told the Seattle Times. Stricter environmental regulations could force the manufacturer to stop the production of their B777F and B767F by 2027, at the latest.

Heiner Siegmund

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Comments: 2
  • #1

    Rayhan Ahmed (Monday, 26 April 2021 01:12)

    The A350 -950 bulk door will have
    To be re - positioned to cater for
    A large cargo door . The bulk door
    On the A350 -900 is on the port side
    Of the aircraft were we connect our
    Belt loader ... so in other words the
    Bulk door on the A350-950 will have to
    Be positioned on the starboard side
    Of the aircraft in the design plans .

  • #2

    Rayhan Ahmed (Monday, 26 April 2021 01:30)

    Note : it is very unusual to read that the
    Freighter version is going to have
    A large cargo door port side as with the
    The passenger A350-900 has two
    Large cargo doors on starboard
    Side ... and a bulk door on port side ...
    So how is this all going to work out
    On the A350 -950 with a extended
    Fuselage with no rear cargo door on
    Port side ????????

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