Singapore Airlines has signed a letter of intent with Airbus for seven A350F freighter aircraft, with options to order five more of the widebody jet’s cargo version.

Deliveries are scheduled to begin in the fourth quarter of 2025, which will see the gradual replacement of the airline’s existing cargo fleet of seven B747-400Fs.

SIA has been enhancing its cargo capabilities over the last few years, especially in e-commerce, fresh produce, and pharmaceuticals.

The arrival of the A350Fs is expected to reinforce the SIA’s position in the air cargo sector and support its commitment to net zero carbon emissions by 2050 with a young fleet of modern aircraft

The A350F, powered by Rolls-Royce Trent-XWB97 engines, can carry a similar volume of cargo as the Boeing 747-400F with a 109 tonne payload capability. It also burns up to 40 percent less fuel on similar missions.

Singapore Airlines is currently the largest operator of the A350, with 56 aircraft in service across its network. The deal is the third commitment received by Airbus for the A350F programme over the past month. The deal includes a swap with 15 A320neo and two A350-900 passenger aircraft that are part of SIA’s order book.