Cathay Cargo has confirmed order for a selection of the next-generation Airbus A350F freighter with a vision to elevate Hong Kong’s air cargo hub and enhance its connectivity with the Chinese Mainland and the rest of the world.

Cathay Cargo, an arm of Hong Kong-based Cathay Pacific Airways, has added a selection of the next-generation Airbus A350F freighters whose deliveries will start in 2027. 

In a press statement, Cathay says it has placed an initial firm order with Airbus for six aircraft and has secured the right to acquire 20 more aircraft. This move is expected to 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.

Cathay says 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.

“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.’ These highly fuel-efficient, next-generation freighters will provide important additional cargo capacity, expand our global network and contribute to our sustainability leadership goals,” says Cathay Group Chief Executive Officer Ronald Lam.

“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,” says Airbus Chief Commercial Officer and Head of International Christian Scherer.

Cathay Cargo has a freighter fleet of 20 Boeing 747 freighters, including 14 B747-8Fs and six B747-400ERFs. 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 from 2025 and a total of 49 Airbus A320neo and A321neo aircraft expected to be delivered by 2029.