Air France-KLM is set to be one of the launch customers for the A350F with a confirmed purchase order for four Airbus long-haul freighters, with purchase rights for an additional four aircraft, a press release stated last week.

These aircraft will be operated by Air France from its global hub at Paris-Charles de Gaulle airport, equipped with a state-of-art 14,000-sqm cargo terminal.

The order comes with full substitution rights to Airbus A350 passenger aircraft, which constitute the new flagship of Air France’s long-haul fleet. It currently operates 15 of the 38 aircraft of the type on order.

Benjamin Smith, CEO of Air France-KLM, said the firm order underlines the airline’s direction to strengthen its position on the buoyant cargo business.

Once delivered, the aircraft are expected to increase Air France’s cargo fleet, which consists of two Boeing 777F. The airline also offers belly capacity with more than a hundred wide-body passenger aircraft.