Atlas Air Worldwide has ordered 20 Airbus A350F freighters, a deal that makes the US cargo operator the largest customer for Airbus’ next-generation freighter and gives it early delivery slots for the type. Airbus announced the agreement on March 16, 2026, calling Atlas the biggest A350F customer to date.
Atlas said the order also includes options for 20 more aircraft. Deliveries of the firm-order jets are expected to start in 2029 and run through 2034, giving the New York-based group a new widebody freighter platform as it prepares for the retirement of older cargo aircraft across the market.
Michael Steen, chief executive of Atlas Air Worldwide, said the company was securing early positions for what it sees as a next-generation freighter, adding that the move fits its strategy of keeping a modern and fuel-efficient widebody fleet.
“We are pleased to add Airbus and Rolls-Royce to our supplier base of leading aircraft and engine manufacturers, offering us optionality and supporting our global operations and continued growth,” Sheen commented.
Atlas also said the A350F order is intended to support long-term earnings growth and broader expansion across global cargo and charter markets.
The aircraft will be powered by Rolls-Royce Trent XWB-97 engines and will complement Atlas’ current fleet of 113 freighters, made up of Boeing 747s, 777s, and 767s. Atlas said the addition of the A350F would broaden its offering while reinforcing its position as the world’s largest widebody freighter operator, with about 13% market share.
For Airbus, the deal marks a notable win in the US cargo market. The airframer said Atlas’ selection of the A350F represented the first order for the type from a US operator. Airbus has pitched the A350F as a clean-sheet new-generation freighter, highlighting its large main-deck cargo door, use of advanced materials for lower weight, and compliance with ICAO’s tighter CO2 emissions standards due to take effect in 2027.
