Cathay Cargo has announced it selected the next-generation Airbus A350F freighter to meet its future fleet requirements, confirming earlier reports the carrier is favouring Airbus over Boeing for the said orders.

In a statement, the Hong Kong-headquartered Cathay said it has placed an initial firm order with Airbus for six aircraft and has secured the right to acquire 20 more aircraft.

Cathay noted that this order to be delivered commencing from 2027 will help further strengthen Hong Kong's status as the world's number one air cargo hub — providing even greater cargo connectivity between Hong Kong, the Chinese Mainland and the rest of the world.

"As we move into 2024, our rebuild journey is gaining momentum. This order marks another major component in our investment for the future. It reflects Cathay's confidence in the Hong Kong hub as we look ahead to the opportunities provided by the Three-Runway System," said Ronald Lam, chief executive officer at Cathay.

"These highly fuel-efficient, next-generation freighters will provide important additional cargo capacity, expand our global network and contribute to our sustainability leadership goals," he added.

The aircraft orders will replace Cathay's oldest section of its dedicated 747 cargo jet fleet.

Cathay Cargo currently has a freighter fleet of 20 Boeing 747 freighters, including 14 B747-8Fs and six B747-400ERFs. 

Cathay noted that these freighters will link Hong Kong and the Chinese Mainland with long-haul destinations in North and South America as well as Europe.

The purchase agreement brings the Cathay Group's new aircraft deliveries to 77.

"There's a new standard in the cargo space, and we are gratified that such a savvy global air-cargo operator as Cathay has joined the growing number of reference players in the air-freight industry selecting the A350F," said Christian Scherer, chief commercial officer and head of international at Airbus.

In addition to freighter capacity, Cathay Cargo provides belly capacity through the Cathay Group's extensive passenger network, providing cargo services to around 80 destinations worldwide.

The Cathay Group's order book includes 21 Boeing 777-9 wide-body passenger aircraft scheduled to be delivered in 2025 and a total of 49 Airbus A320neo and A321neo aircraft expected to be delivered by 2029. 

Airbus noted that the A350F can carry a payload of up to 111 tonnes and can fly up to 4,700 nautical miles / 8,700 kilometres at a significantly lower cost than any other freighter available today.

This will enable it to serve all heavy cargo markets, including the world's biggest freight route between Hong Kong and Anchorage.

The A350F also features the largest main deck cargo door in the industry, with fuselage length and capacity optimised around the industry's standard pallets and containers.