FlightGlobal
• Joseph Dainty
China Airlines selected Safran to overhaul the landing gear on its 18-aircraft A350-900 fleet from 2026 to 2031, while Japan Airlines renewed Boeing 787 component support with Lufthansa Technik. Hebei Airlines and FTAI Aviation also expanded CFM56 maintenance activity across the Asia-Pacific region.
Air Cargo & Freight Logistics
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China Airlines selected Safran to overhaul the landing gear on its 18-aircraft A350-900 fleet from 2026 to 2031, while Japan Airlines renewed Boeing 787 component support with Lufthansa Technik. Hebei Airlines and FTAI Aviation also expanded CFM56 maintenance activity across the Asia-Pacific region.
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Airbus will fly its A350F freighter prototype for the first time on Sept. 29 in Toulouse, following two high-speed rejected-takeoff tests. The publicly livestreamed flight will begin a certification campaign targeting first deliveries in late 2027, although substantial testing remains before approval.
Airbus has set the date for the first flight of its A350F cargo aircraft and will livestream the milestone, offering public access to the program’s initial flight-test event. The announcement marks a key step in advancing Airbus’ next-generation widebody freighter program.
LOT Polish Airlines is preparing to enter the dedicated freighter market, according to ch-aviation. The move would broaden the Polish carrier’s cargo offering beyond passenger-aircraft capacity, although details on aircraft, timing, routes and the scale of the planned operation have not been disclosed.
SATS is piloting autonomous cargo vehicles carrying up to 800 kilograms between Changi terminals and freight forwarders’ warehouses, while Singapore Airlines and DHL Express renew an agreement covering five Boeing 777 freighters. SIA will continue providing crews and maintenance for DHL’s Singapore-based intercontinental network.
The U.S. FAA has granted Boeing an emissions waiver covering 35 newly built 777 freighters, allowing the aircraft to proceed despite applicable emissions requirements. The decision affects near-term freighter production and delivery plans while underscoring the regulatory constraints facing large cargo aircraft.
Radia is developing WindRunner, a clean-sheet cargo lifter designed around specialized, high-volume transport, with potential commercial and military applications. Boeing’s experience with an ultimately unlaunched freighter underscores the market and development risks of building an aircraft for narrowly defined demand.
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