2 min read - 17 Mar, 2026
Airbus lands record order for A350F freighters
Atlas Air Worldwide, a US-based airfreight logistics specialist, has placed a landmark firm order for 20 Airbus A350F freighters, with options for an additional 20 aircraft. The order is the largest ever placed for the latest generation fuel-efficient A350F and makes Atlas the biggest customer of the type. The deal also becomes the first A350F customer in the Americas.
The A350F aircraft will be powered by 40 Rolls-Royce Trent XWB-97 engines, built in Derby. Introduced in 2018, the Trent XWB-97 has accumulated more than four million engine flying hours across eight years of service. The fleet will be covered by Rolls-Royce’s comprehensive TotalCare service that will cover the health and maintenance of the engines.
As a leading outsourced aviation logistics company, Atlas Air is uniquely positioned to bring the A350F’s next-generation performance to global operators across a wide variety of business models and markets.
Atlas Air has placed a landmark order for 20 Airbus A350F freighters, powered by 40 Rolls-Royce Trent XWB-97 engines / Picture: Airbus
Michael Steen, chief executive officer, Atlas Air Worldwide, said: “We are proud to become the largest customer for the Airbus A350F, securing early delivery positions for this next-generation widebody freighter platform. This order reflects our commitment to maintaining the industry’s most modern and fuel-efficient widebody freighter fleet to best service existing and new customers worldwide.
“The A350F is a highly capable, reliable platform, with incremental payload and range benefits, and a strong sustainability profile. We are pleased to add Airbus and Rolls-Royce to our supplier base of leading aircraft and engine manufacturers, offering us optionality and supporting our global operations and continued growth.”
The A350F features the largest main deck cargo door in the industry, with fuselage length and capacity optimised around the industry’s standard pallets and containers. Over 70% of the airframe is made of advanced materials, resulting in a 46-tonne lighter take-off weight than the competing derivative. The A350F is also the only freighter aircraft that will fully meet ICAO’s enhanced CO₂ emissions standards, coming into effect in 2027.
Lars Wagner, CEO of commercial aircraft at Airbus, added: “We are excited to welcome Atlas Air Worldwide, a global leader of the air cargo industry, to the Airbus family. Atlas Air’s selection of the latest generation A350F – the first in the US – represents a pivotal moment, cementing the A350F’s position as the preferred true all-new-generation freighter for the world’s most demanding cargo operators.”
