Airbus pitching new A350 freighter to UPS and DHL

Airbus’ planned freighter version of the A350 jet is attracting interest from major cargo firms United Parcel Service (NYSE:UPS) and DHL Worldwide, less than a month after its board approved the jet’s launch, Bloomberg reports.

The new cargo jet will have 40% less fuel burn than four-engine freighters such as the Boeing 747 model, which should make it an attractive choice for customers, Airbus CEO Guillaume Faury has said.

UPS said during its recent earnings conference call that its existing order book is sufficient to meet requirements for the next three years, but it is reviewing longer-term needs.

Airbus’ new freighter is an attempt to break Boeing’s dominance of a lucrative but volatile part of the jet market.