Korean Air joins the A350F club after converting orders for Airbus passenger jets
October 31, 2025
Korean Air has unveiled an order for the Airbus A350 Freighter, becoming the newest customer for this new aircraft type.
The airline has converted seven of its A350-1000 to the A350F from its outstanding order book of 33 of the type. The order now stands at just 20 A350-1000, six A350-900 and seven A350F.
“Korean Air is one of the world’s largest cargo operators,” said Benoît de Saint-Exupéry, Airbus EVP Sales of the Commercial Aircraft business. “The decision to add the A350F to its fleet is therefore a very significant endorsement of the aircraft’s unique capabilities. The A350F will bring Korean Air the most efficient solution in the large freighter segment.”
Korean Air’s A350F order: Replacement or growth?
Korean Air runs a robust cargo operation, with numerous aircraft in its fleet outfitted as freighters. Core to its operations is a dwindling fleet of Boeing 747-400F, once numbering 22 aircraft but today reduced to just four. All are around 20 years old.
Other cargo haulers include the Boeing 777F, of which it has 12, aged between 9 and 12 years old, and six Boeing 747-8F of around the same age.
In August, the airline placed a sizeable order for new Boeing aircraft, including the 777-9 passenger aircraft and eight 777-8 Freighters.
Undoubtedly, some of the incoming 777-8F and A350F aircraft will be replacements for the oldest of its current cargo carriers, particularly the ageing 747-400s. However, there’s likely to be a growth play here too.
Airbus has forecast that a sizable chunk of new freighter deliveries will be for growth rather than replacement. Out of the 2,605 freighter aircraft it says will be required by 2044, approximately 1,075 will be for growth.
Freight demand in Korean Air’s home market of Asia-Pacific is set to be one of the most buoyant over the coming years, and it seems Korean is eyeing a growing foothold in the lucrative cargo market.
Korean Air joins the A350F club: Who else is in it?
The A350F, while not yet in service, has received orders for around 68 units from airlines all over the world. Key customers include:
- CMA CGM: Signed for 4 A350F in November ’21, later increased to 8 aircraft
- Starlux Airlines: Firm order for 10 A350F
- Cathay Pacific: Firm order for 6 A350F, options for more
- Singapore Airlines: Orders for 7 A350F
- Turkish Airlines: Ordered 5 A350F
- Silk Way West: Ordered 2 A350F with options
- AviLease: Ordered 10 A350F with options
- Air France-KLM: Initially ordered 8 A350F, but later reduced this number to 6
- Etihad: Ordered 7 in 2022, but increased this to 10 in late 2024
Within the order book, there are a number of aircraft attributed to undisclosed customers. Reports indicate Air China Cargo could be on the verge of ordering 10 of the type, but Airbus is yet to receive any orders from the big cargo-only airlines such as DHL and FedEx.
The first A350F is in final assembly at Toulouse, with wings complete and fuselage delivered. Airbus has said that the flight test campaign for the aircraft will be relatively short, estimating around 10 months for certification.
However, supply chain constraints have pushed the timeline for the freighter’s introduction. Airbus currently estimates that deliveries will begin in 2027.
