Air China Cargo Plans Up to $4.65 Billion Airbus Freighter Order

Beijing-based carrier seeks up to 10 A350F aircraft in major fleet expansion. Shareholder vote scheduled for November as Airbus rebuilds order book after recent cancellations.

Air China Cargo unveiled plans to purchase up to 10 Airbus A350F freighters in a deal valued at $4.65 billion at list prices, the Beijing-based carrier disclosed in a stock exchange filing Monday.

The proposed transaction includes six firm aircraft orders with an option to purchase four additional freighters. Air China Cargo must exercise those options by the end of 2026, according to Air Cargo News. The company’s shareholders are scheduled to vote on the deal Nov. 14.

Each A350F carries a list price of $465 million, though airlines typically negotiate substantial discounts on aircraft purchases. The actual transaction value is expected to come in significantly lower than the catalog figure.

The widebody freighters can haul up to 111 tonnes of cargo and are scheduled for delivery between 2029 and 2031. Airbus expects the aircraft type to enter service by late 2027, though the program has faced delays.

“This transaction aligns with the company’s development plan and market demand, and will help optimize the company’s fleet structure and long-term capacity replenishment,” Air China Cargo said in its filing. “It will create a large and medium-sized freighter capacity structure that meets market and customer needs, contributing to long-term stable operation.”

The order makes Air China Cargo the sixth Asian operator to commit to the A350F. Other regional customers include Taiwan’s Starlux and Singapore Airlines, both with orders for multiple aircraft.

Airbus has secured 65 A350F orders as of Sept. 30, 2025. France’s CMA CGM will be the launch customer with eight aircraft on order. Other buyers include Saudi Arabia’s AviLease and Starlux with up to 10 each, Etihad Airways and Singapore Airlines with seven each, Turkish Airlines with five, Cathay Pacific with six, and Silk Way West Airlines with two.

The new order provides a boost to Airbus after recent customer cancellations. In August, the Air France-KLM Group reduced its A350F commitment from eight to six aircraft amid delays in the freighter’s entry into service. The group had ordered four for Air France Cargo and four for its Dutch subsidiary Martinair, but removed one order from each operation.

A month earlier, Air Lease Corporation dropped an order for seven A350Fs. The leasing company had been expected to be among the program’s launch customers.

Air China Cargo currently operates six Airbus A330-200P2F freighters alongside 13 Boeing 777-200Fs and three 747-400s, according to aviation database ch-aviation.

The A350F program, launched in 2021, was originally slated to enter service in 2026. Airbus announced in February 2025 that supply chain issues would push the debut back to the second half of 2027. The manufacturer is currently assembling the first flight-test aircraft at its Final Assembly Line in Toulouse, France.

Based on the Airbus A350-1000 passenger jet, the A350F represents the manufacturer’s next-generation cargo aircraft. Airbus produces major sections at facilities across Europe, with wings manufactured in Broughton, United Kingdom; the rear fuselage and stabilizer in Getafe, Spain; the center section in Nordenham, Germany; and engine pylons in Toulouse.

The manufacturer markets the freighter as having up to 20% lower carbon dioxide emissions than current cargo aircraft, a maximum takeoff weight 29 tonnes lighter than competitors, and a reduced noise footprint. The aircraft has a range of up to 4,700 nautical miles.