Airbus (AIB, Toulouse Blagnac) is considering developing an A350 dedicated freighter following the cancellation late last year of its last outstanding A330-200F orders, Reuters has reported citing internal sources.
If launched, the new type would be based on a slightly extended A350-900 variant and would be the first dedicated freighter based on an aircraft type with a composite fuselage.
Airbus declined to comment, saying only that it was always looking for new opportunities.
The European manufacturer has been lagging behind its main competitor, Boeing, in the cargo market. According to the ch-aviation fleets module, the vast majority of Airbus's factory-built freighters were in the A300 family, including seventy-four A300B4(F)s and 106 A300-600Fs. Its only in-production freighter type is the A330-200F, of which it has delivered 38. However, following MNG Airlines' decision to scrap its last three orders in favour of converted aircraft, Airbus no longer has any firm commitments for the factory-built freighters.
While P2F-converted Airbus aircraft are growing in popularity, there are only two A321-200(P2F)s, three converted A330-200Fs, and six A330-300(P2F)s in operation. Converted A320-200(P2F)s are also in the pipeline, on top of many converted A300/A310 family twinjets.
In turn, Boeing continues to build three types of widebody dedicated freighters: the B747-8(F) with 11 outstanding orders, the B767-300F with 42 orders, and the B777-200F with 40. Converted freighters exist based on various variants of the B737, B747, B757, and B767 Family aircraft. The first B777-300(ER) to be converted into a freighter is currently undergoing P2F conversion with Israel Aerospace Industries. However, as the B747 Family is nearing the end of its production and with no B777X-based freighter announced, the B767 could soon become Boeing's only in-production cargo carrier.
According to Reuters' sources, the development of a new A350-based freighter could cost Airbus USD2-3 billion, with at least 50 advance commitments required to greenlight the line.
