Airbus on Monday said it had won a provisional debut order for seven A350 freighter jets from leasing company Air Lease Corp as it looked to cash in on the surging cargo market.
No financial details were disclosed after the deal was agreed at the Dubai Airshow. A letter of intent for the freighters signed includes more than 100 passenger jets: 25 A220-300s, 55 A321neos, 20 A321XLRs and four wide-body A330neos.
Cargo business was key to survival for many airlines as passenger flights came to a standstill during the Covid pandemic. It has now expanded with sea container fees soaring on the back of growing economic demand.
“It is very clear that … e-commerce is a very stabilising factor in the freighter market place and a growing factor,” said Air Lease Chief Executive John Plueger.
Boeing is expected to launch a competing freighter version of its 777X wide-body passenger plane within weeks. It said on Sunday it was in advanced talks with potential customers.
Air Lease chairman Steven Udvar-Hazy, said the company was “convinced we have made the right choice again on the A220 and A350F, responding to what we see the market will need in the period of recovery ahead”.
In a separate deal announced in London on Monday, European budget airline Wizz Air agreed to buy 102 Airbus A321neo passenger aircraft.
