Hong Kong's Cathay Group has placed an order for two additional Airbus A350F freighters, increasing its total commitment for the next-generation cargo aircraft to eight and reinforcing Cathay Cargo's position as one of the type's leading customers.

According to Aviation Business News, the aircraft will be operated by Cathay Cargo, the group's dedicated air cargo division. The order brings the A350F's total registered commitments to 101 aircraft from 14 customers as of the end of April 2026.

Ronald Lam, Chief Executive of the Cathay Group, said the investment reflected the group's confidence in its long-term growth prospects. "This strategic, future-ready investment reflects our resolute confidence in our long-term growth prospects and supports Cathay Cargo's goal of being the world's best air cargo carrier," he said.

Benoît de Saint-Exupéry, Airbus executive vice president for sales of the commercial aircraft business, said Cathay's continued endorsement of the A350F demonstrated the type's new generation of freighter capacity and efficiency, adding that the aircraft would accelerate the airline's decarbonisation journey through technical commonality with its existing Airbus fleet.

The A350F offers a range of up to 8,700 kilometres and a payload capacity of up to 111 tonnes. Constructed from more than 70% advanced materials and powered by Rolls-Royce Trent XWB-97 engines, the aircraft is 46 tonnes lighter than comparable competitor freighters and delivers up to a 20% reduction in fuel consumption and carbon emissions relative to previous-generation aircraft with equivalent payload-range capability.

Airbus said the A350F is the only freighter fully compliant with ICAO's 2027 CO2 emissions standards, a distinction that is expected to become increasingly significant as airlines and cargo operators face tightening regulatory requirements on fleet emissions across major international markets.

Read the full order announcement and A350F specification details in the complete report.