A350F
 

https://www.reuters.com/business/aer...ow-2021-11-14/

Air Lease is expected to be among early customers for a long-haul A350 freighter alongside an unspecified cargo firm, industry publication The Air Current reported.

Where you going to park it?

Im 100% certain UPS will order this airplane and 3 months before first delivery, they’ll be extremely surprised they don’t have anywhere to park it.

Will be Dhl, operated by European air transport from leipzig/Germany….

No idea if it will be the A350, converted 777s, or something else to replace the MD11. What I am sure of is that there is nothing available that can replace an MD that has the same ramp footprint. Both UPS and FedEx will have to repaint their ramps and perhaps pour some concrete. The only other option is to use a couple of 76s to replace each MD11 which would also drive a need for more concrete. I’m very skeptical that UPS is the unnamed logistics company in the article.

I agree about us not being an early A350F operator. I see FedEx selecting some 777X freighters if they are indeed offered. I can see UPS getting more 767s.

Lol. Funny because true.

But seriously folks, I don't think brand new shiny Airbusii is in keeping with "sweating the assets", however "discounted" the pricetag. Few hundred million here, few hundred million there, eventually it buys a lot of gas, and there are tons of -400s just languishing in the boneyard...

Yippee! Just what we all want:mad:. 109t seems a bit light on the payload.

109 metric tons is 240k lbs…more than a 777F.

Yes, but how far can it go with that load? Will it need a tech stop in KIX when flying from HKG/SZX to ANC? I haven’t seen those numbers yet. The other number that bears watching is the cost differential between a 777P2F and the A350F. Either way, the parking plan has to change.

A350F
 

The Google sez A350F is spec’d at 4700nm range with 109 metric tons max payload.

For comparison, 777F is 4880nm @ 104.5 metric tons max payload and the 777-300ERSF is 4650nm @ 100.7 metric tons max payload.

Yep. 777F has 105-106 metric ton payload capability until MZFW. About another 100T of fuel puts it at ramp weight.

Why would I Google it when I can ask you?:D

Appreciate the info. I strongly doubt we are launch customer unless they offered a beyond screaming good deal.

All Good Stuff. 777 was tabled by Boeing to this customer and they went with the 350 anyway. Agree it probably wasn’t Purple, although like Cathay and another European outfit Fred has been a major if not one of the largest contributors for less to no pilots up front technology. Will no doubt take time, but the hunt is on like Donkey Kong with more and more interested parties and both manufacturers showcasing developments. Regulatory hurdles will slow the process some.

I always laugh when people say UPS will never get XXX or XXX cause of ramp space on the wings. Did anyone see how many Atlas 747’s we’re parked on ramp 6 this week? Lol.

MX recently told me there is enough room on Ramp 6 alone for 8 74s.

Excellent, you have plenty of -8’s with a few more coming on line quickly followed by the Final 4 Atlas birds near the end of 2022. Definitely will be able to prove Ramp 6 capability in the near future.

Also, people don’t realize that UPS once had 10 orders and 10 options for the A380F.
It wasn’t until Airbus kept delaying the deliveries that UPS finally CNXed them.

I think people question the ramp space when talking about replacing 40ish MDs vs adding a few 74s for peak. Those MDs are littered all over the wings, which obviously doesn’t work with just about any replacement.

Well I guess we’re screwed. There’s zero options then. I guess we’ll just keep the MD11 forever… lol

Again, I just laugh that people are 100% convinced that “nothing will fit in the wings…” therefore there are zero options…

Learn to be…

Location of the main deck door might be as big a factor in what airframes “fit on the wings” in SDF as wingspan.

Theres the 76, which may just be the plan.

Until 2028…

I think that will only impact new off the assembly line aircraft, not pax to freight conversion. It will be interesting to see how that impacts purchases going forward.

A good summary of the freighter issues going forward. I'm still suspect of the A350 claimed performance, Airbus never could make the A380 work. Probably smart to wait and see. Based on previous freighter history, the 777X Freighter will likely be more capable. With the 747-8 ending production, the only new freighters that meet the ICAO CO2 emission standards are the A350 and 777X, and both are only a design proposal currently (777X highly probable). It's an interesting problem.

https://leehamnews.com/2021/04/06/bo...ce-threatened/

Which begs the interesting question of what will fill the niche currently occupied by the 76 freighter. UPS, FedEx, and ACMI companies will need something more than just a a350 or 777X. Perhaps a 78 freighter?

A330 NEO Freighter or 787 Freighter.

The airplane of the future might be the 767

Duplicate mesaage

Only a few production years left unless they launch a NEO.

Definitely agree for the foreseeable future by sheer numbers on the line everywhere and the numbers still left to be delivered (not including conversions) the 76 will be the predominant force. Of course there will be new platforms introduced but it will take a decade to infiltrate the current investments with any major impact.

Qatar CEO has publicly stated the need for new freighters. Qatar operates the passenger version A350 currently but several grounded. CEO closed the door on the A350F today per the article. Looking at up to 50 777X Freighter airplanes. It doesn’t bode well for the A350F if current operators of 350 don’t want the airplane. Again, it’s one articles opinion.

https://www.airlineratings.com/news/...7x-freighters/

If current operators don’t want the A350 then UPS will probably go with opposite flow and buy them 🤪.

This may be more true than we’d like. The less demand for the 350f the lower the price UPS could negotiate. I still think a converted 777 is more likely, but who knows. We could still be flying MDs in 15 years, when I will cease caring.

Just like UPS did with launching the 75 and 76pf. How long did it take the world to catch up on that one?