Airbus sees Malaysia opportunity for A350 freighter
KUALA LUMPUR: Airbus sees an opportunity for Malaysian-based carriers to consider the A350 freighter (A350F) aircraft as the country strengthens its role in high-value manufacturing and regional logistics.
Airbus Asia Pacific president Anand Stanley said Malaysia's semiconductor and other critical industries as well as its location between major Asian growth markets could support demand for new-build freighters.
He said this would include both replacement demand for existing freighters and growth demand as cargo volumes linked to high-value goods continue to develop.
Asked whether Malaysian-based carriers could consider the A350F, Stanley said Airbus would welcome such a move.
"We would love to see that. We see airlines in Malaysia today having new-build freighters today that they are using for high value goods, and I believe there will be a replacement of those freighters.
"I also believe that there will be a growth requirement because Malaysia has semiconductor industries and many critical industries, high-value industries. Malaysia also serves as a hub between China and India and the Asean growth region," he told Business Times in an interview recently.
The A350F is Airbus' new-generation widebody freighter that is being positioned for long-haul cargo operations, high-value exports and the replacement of older large freighters, particularly the Boeing B747 freighter.
Stanley said total demand for new freighter aircraft is expected to exceed 2,600 deliveries over the next 20 years with about 935 of them to be new-build freighters.
Asia Pacific is expected to account for around 250 new-build freighters over the same period.
New-build freighters are aircraft built specifically for cargo operations, unlike passenger aircraft that are converted into freighters or cargo aircraft.
Airbus sees Asia Pacific as a key market for the A350F, supported by major cargo hubs, export flows and demand from airlines operating heavy long-haul freighter routes.
Several carriers in the region have ordered the aircraft, including Air China Cargo, Cathay Cargo, Korean Air, Singapore Airlines and Starlux.
Stanley said cargo, trade and export growth are supporting demand among Asia Pacific cargo carriers.
"I think we have been seeing that the fundamental cargo growth, and the trade and export growth numbers are growing at a rate where Asia Pacific cargo carriers are growing organically," he said.
