Atlas Air Places Firm Order for 20 A350 Freighters, Sidelines Boeing 747s
Atlas Air signed a firm order for 20 Airbus A350 freighters, with options for 20 more, marking its first non-Boeing acquisition and making it the largest A350F customer. Deliveries span 2029 to 2034, with four replacing Boeing 747-400s in the mid-2030s.
1. Atlas Air’s Airbus A350 Freighter Order
Atlas Air has firmed up an order for 20 Airbus A350 freighters with options for an additional 20, becoming the largest customer for Airbus’s new widebody cargo jet. This marks the first time Atlas Air will integrate non-Boeing aircraft into its fleet of 113 jets.
2. Implications for Boeing’s Freighter Dominance
The decision underscores Airbus’s breakthrough in a market long dominated by Boeing, particularly as Boeing’s next-generation 777-8 freighter remains under development. Atlas Air cited early access to a tested platform and superior fuel and emissions performance as key factors behind choosing the A350F.
3. Delivery Schedule and Fleet Replacement
Deliveries of the A350 freighters are scheduled from 2029 through 2034, with four aircraft slated to replace Boeing 747-400s by the mid-2030s. The remaining A350s will support capacity growth as retirements of older widebody freighters accelerate.