Cathay Group has expanded its future dedicated freighter fleet by converting two additional Airbus A350F options into firm orders, increasing its total A350F backlog from six to eight aircraft. The new widebody freighters are scheduled to join the Cathay Cargo fleet from 2027 as part of a broader long-haul cargo renewal plan.
The A350F, still in development, is positioned as a new-generation long-range freighter with a payload capability of around 111 tonnes and a range of about 4,700 nautical miles, or 8,700 kilometers. The aircraft is derived from the A350 passenger family and is designed to offer significantly lower fuel burn and emissions than current-generation freighters on comparable missions, contributing to Cathay’s fleet decarbonization strategy.
The additional order reinforces Hong Kong’s role as a major global air cargo hub by supporting long-haul freight connections between Hong Kong, mainland China and key markets in North and South America as well as Europe. The A350F is expected to progressively replace older cargo aircraft, including Boeing 747 freighters, and to benefit from fleet commonality with Cathay’s existing A350-900 and A350-1000 passenger jets.
With this decision, the A350F becomes a central element of Cathay Group’s 77-aircraft order book, which also includes Boeing 777-9s and Airbus A320neo/A321neo family aircraft scheduled for delivery over the coming years.