Air China Cargo has increased its Airbus A350F order to a total of 10 aircraft, converting four purchase options included in its initial agreement into firm orders. The decision was approved by the board of directors through an amendment to the original contract filed with the Shenzhen Stock Exchange.
The cargo subsidiary of Air China had first committed in late 2025 to acquire up to 10 A350F freighters, with six firm orders and four options, becoming the first A350F customer in mainland China. The latest step secures the full block of 10 aircraft and confirms the A350F as a central pillar of the airline’s long-haul cargo strategy.
The six initial A350F are scheduled for delivery between 2029 and 2031, with the four additional units to follow between 2032 and 2033, as part of a phased renewal of a fleet currently dominated by Boeing 777F and 747-400F, complemented by A330-200 passenger-to-freighter conversions.
At catalog prices, the full 10-aircraft commitment is valued at about USD 4.65 billion, though the airline has indicated that negotiated discounts bring the actual transaction value below list price. The expanded order strengthens Airbus’s position in the Chinese cargo market, where the widebody freighter segment has traditionally been led by Boeing.