The Air France-KLM Group has confirmed it will scale back its Airbus A350 freighter order, trimming one aircraft from subsidiary Martinair’s backlog and reducing its total commitment from eight to six.
The move means Netherlands-based Martinair now has three A350Fs on order, matching the revised number for Air France.
Both carriers had originally ordered four each, but in March the group signalled plans to slim the combined order in response to production delays and a review of its fleet portfolio.
Air France-KLM said the decision was intended to balance future capital expenditure with operational efficiency, noting Airbus’s recent confirmation that the A350F’s entry into service would be delayed.
The group emphasised it remains committed to a mixed cargo fleet, combining dedicated freighters with bellyhold capacity, and confirmed the A350Fs will eventually replace Air France’s Boeing 777-200Fs and KLM/Martinair’s Boeing 747-400Fs. Leases on the current aircraft could be extended to ensure service continuity.
At present, Air France-KLM Martinair Cargo operates two Boeing 777Fs and four Boeing 747-400Fs.
The Franco-Dutch airline group is not alone in adjusting its A350F commitments.
Last month, launch customer Air Lease Corporation removed all seven of its orders, citing similar delivery delays and growing caution in the market over large-scale freighter investments amid an uncertain tariff and trade environment.