Atlas Air could eventually operate as many as 60 Airbus A350F freighters after adding 20 purchase rights to its agreement for the new-generation cargo aircraft.
The additional rights were disclosed by Martin Drew, Chief Strategy and Transformation Officer at Atlas Air Worldwide, during the ALTA AGM & Airline Leaders Forum in Mexico City, according to Aviation Week.
The move does not increase the airline’s firm order. Atlas currently has 20 A350Fs on firm order and options for another 20 aircraft. The 20 purchase rights create a third group of potential aircraft and take the maximum scope of the agreement to 60 freighters.
Atlas placed its firm order in March 2026, becoming the largest customer for the A350F. At the time, the company described the deal as the largest aircraft order in its history.
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Deliveries of the 20 firm aircraft are scheduled to begin in 2029 and continue through 2034. Atlas has said the A350Fs are intended to expand its capacity rather than simply replace existing aircraft.
First Airbus aircraft for Atlas
The A350F order also introduced Airbus to an Atlas fleet historically based on Boeing aircraft. The group currently operates 747, 777 and 767 widebody aircraft in cargo, passenger and leasing activities.
Atlas had 113 aircraft when the A350F order was announced in March. Its fleet included 60 Boeing 747s, making the company the world’s largest operator of the type and one of the largest widebody cargo operators.
The A350F is powered by two Rolls-Royce Trent XWB-97 engines and is based on the A350 platform, although Airbus developed a shorter fuselage specifically for the freighter. The aircraft has a maximum payload of up to 111 tonnes and is designed to carry standard pallets and containers on both its main and lower decks.
The type will also give Atlas an alternative to Boeing’s large production freighters. The company’s current long-haul cargo operation relies heavily on the 747-8F, 747-400F and 777F.
A350F begins flight testing
The expansion of the Atlas agreement comes less than a month after the A350F made its maiden flight. The first test aircraft, MSN 700, flew for the first time on September 29 from Toulouse, France.
Airbus is using two aircraft for the flight-test campaign ahead of certification and entry into service. The manufacturer developed the A350F to comply with the stricter International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) CO2 emissions standards that take effect for newly produced aircraft in 2028.
