US cargo carrier Atlas Air becomes largest customer so far for the Airbus A350F
March 17, 2026
US-based cargo airline has become the largest customer to date for the widebody Airbus A350F freighter. The type, which is due to enter service in the second half of 2027, is seen as a direct competitor to the Boeing 777F and has already won around 100 orders from several leading freight carriers worldwide, making Atlas Air the biggest customer of the type so far.
Atlas Air orders 20 Airbus A350Fs with options for 20 more
Atlas Air Worldwide, a leading US-based predominantly cargo airline, has ordered 20 Airbus A350F freighters in a deal that makes the US cargo operator the largest customer for Airbus’ next-generation freighter so far.
Airbus announced the agreement with the airline on 16 March, adding the carrier to a growing list of freight airlines that have added the A350F to their fleets. As part of the deal, Atlas Air will receive early delivery slots for the type as it seeks to onboard the aircraft as soon as possible.
According to an Atlas Air Worldwide statement, the order also includes options for 20 additional aircraft. Deliveries of the first firm-order planes are expected to start in 2029 and run until 2034, and provide the carrier with a next-generation platform, allowing it to retire older aircraft currently operating in its fleet.
“The order represents a key investment in the Company’s long-term fleet strategy and positions Atlas to drive sustained earnings growth while modernising its global fleet,” added the statement.
The A350F will complement the carrier’s existing all-Boeing freighter fleet
The A350Fs, which will be powered by Rolls-Royce Trent XWB-97 engines, will support strategic expansion of the airline and will allow the carrier to “broaden its fleet offerings for its customers across global cargo and charter markets, offering strong payload-range capability and fuel efficiency.”
The addition of the Airbus A350F to the Atlas Air fleet will see the type complement the company’s existing fleet of 113 aircraft (which includes the Boeing 747, 767, and 777 and will cement the carrier’s current position as the world’s largest widebody freighter operator with approximately 13% of the global market share of air cargo.
Michael Steen, chief executive of Atlas Air Worldwide, said the company was securing early positions for what it sees as a next-generation freighter, adding that the move fits its strategy of keeping a modern and fuel-efficient widebody fleet while also offering the A350F’s next-generation performance to global operators across a wide variety of business models and markets.
Steen added that Atlas Air was proud to become the largest customer of the A350F to date, stating that the order reflects his company’s commitment to maintaining the industry’s most modern and fuel-efficient widebody freighter fleet.
“We are excited to welcome Atlas Air Worldwide, a global leader of the air cargo industry, to the Airbus family,” said Lars Wagner, CEO Commercial Aircraft at Airbus. “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.”
The A350F will bring a new dimension to Atlas Air operations
By selecting the A350F for its future fleet, Atlas Air said it is looking beyond just introducing the type to its customers. In addition to bolstering its overall fleet capacity and being able to offer another type to its diverse range of customers, the company said it aims to support long-term pilot career growth and operational expansion opportunities.
As new aircraft enter the fleet, Atlas said it anticipates creating additional widebody flying opportunities and advancing its position “as a premier employer for pilots and aviation professionals.”
Atlas Air Worldwide Group is one of the world’s leaders in outsourced aviation logistics. The company is the parent of Atlas Air (which operates both cargo and passenger charter flights), Titan Aviation Holdings, Inc. and Polar Air Cargo Worldwide (which operates depicted cargo-only operations).
With approximately 5,000 employees, the Atlas Air Worldwide companies serve a diversified customer roster across the global supply chain in more than 300 destinations in 90 countries.
About the Airbus A350F projected certification timeline
As of early 2026, Airbus said that the certification timeline for the A350F remains intact, with the first flight of the type expected in the third quarter of 2026. The first aircraft is already in production at the company’s assembly plant in Toulouse, France.
With a planned flight test timetable expected to last around nine months and 400 flight hours, the certification process for both EASA and the FAA is aiming to be completed by the second half of 2027, with the first aircraft due to enter service shortly after that.
While the certification processes for both the A350-900 and A350-1000 passenger variants both took around a year to complete, the process for the A350F is expected to be faster due to the type being based on the A350-900 platform, with much of the baseline data for the variant already achieved through earlier testing.
How the Airbus A350F is fairing against the Boeing 777-8F
To date, with its 100 firm orders, the A350F is outselling its primary competitor, the Boeing 777-8F, with a current market share of around 58% compared to 42% for the US-manufactured plane.
Although both types are yet to be certified, the A350F is expected to enter service sooner, with the 777-8F (having 58 firm orders) expected to enter commercial service slightly later in either late 2027 or early 2028.
Unlike the 777-8F, which has won orders from a more concentrated selection of airline customers, the A350F has sold to a more diverse selection of carriers. These include the launch customer, CMA CGM Air Cargo, plus Singapore Airlines Cargo, Etihad Cargo, Cathay Pacific Cargo, Air France/KLM (Martinair), Silk Way West and Starlux Airlines.
Featured image: Airbus
