Airbus A350F takes flight for first time in major freighter milestone

Airbus‘ new A350F has taken to the skies for the first time, beginning a flight-test campaign for an aircraft designed to challenge Boeing’s longstanding dominance of the large freighter market.

Missed the #A350F's first takeoff? We have you covered.

Watch the exact moment our new freighter left the ground in Toulouse. pic.twitter.com/2h3m77Hull

— Airbus (@Airbus) September 29, 2026

The first flight-test aircraft, MSN700, registration F-WXLD, departed Toulouse at 10:30 am CET on 29 September with a five-person crew comprising two pilots, one test flight engineer and two flight test engineers.

The maiden flight was expected to last around four hours before returning to Airbus’ Toulouse headquarters.

It marks a major milestone for a programme launched in 2021 and begins an approximately nine-month certification campaign ahead of planned first deliveries in the second half of 2027.

A350F begins 400-hour test campaign

Airbus plans around 400 flight-test hours using two aircraft, MSN700 and MSN701.

MSN700 will focus on aerodynamic performance, handling qualities and autopilot testing, while MSN701 will test aircraft systems more heavily.

Although based on the A350 passenger family, the freighter has significant structural and aerodynamic differences.

Airbus shortened the forward fuselage of the A350-1000 and positioned the main-deck cargo door behind the wing.

Airbus Widebody Programmes head Julien Pu said the configuration improves the aircraft’s balance while allowing operators to load the main deck and two lower-deck cargo holds simultaneously.

Airbus designed the A350F to fit into the existing A350 production system rather than requiring a dedicated industrial process.

“Another big challenge was we wanted to ensure that the freighter could go through the exact same industrial system as the other aircraft, in the same shops, in the same lines,” Pu said.

“It gave a lot of headaches to our engineers, but in the end, I’m glad that they made it because it’s the recipe for our efficiency.”

A new freighter designed to meet the market’s needs

Sarah McLaren, Airbus head of widebody and freighter marketing, said ahead of the first flight that operators began approaching the manufacturer around 2015 and 2016 seeking another option in the new-build large freighter market.

“The A350 freighter has been built by Airbus, but really it’s been designed by the market,” McLaren said.

The A350F can carry up to 111 tonnes of payload, more than twice the roughly 50 tonnes Airbus quoted for a typical 370-passenger A350-1000 configuration.

Its 175-inch-wide main-deck cargo door is another defining feature. Airbus says it is the widest in the industry and was designed to accommodate outsized loads, including large aircraft engines.

Airbus also sees efficiency as central to the business case. McLaren said the A350F offers a 40% fuel-burn improvement compared with previous-generation freighters. This would potentially reduce one of cargo airlines’ highest operating costs. It will also meet newer ICAO emissions requirements, affecting the production of older-generation freighter designs.

A350F gives UK aerospace a major role in Airbus’ freighter push

The A350F may make its final journey down the assembly line in Toulouse, but some of its most important components come from the UK.

The aircraft’s large carbon-fibre wings are engineered at Airbus’ Filton site near Bristol and manufactured at Broughton in North Wales. Filton also produces the A350F’s equipped gear beam, a critical structural component.

Broughton completed the first A350F wingset in 2025. Airbus designed the freighter’s wings to be sufficiently similar to those of passenger A350s allowing them to pass through the same production line for greater industrial and operational efficiencies.

The wings incorporate advanced composite materials to reduce weight while improving aerodynamic efficiency. Airbus says A350 wings are designed to flex, twist and adapt in flight to reduce aerodynamic resistance and fuel consumption.

The A350F is powered by two Rolls-Royce Trent XWB-97 engines. Rolls-Royce is the exclusive engine supplier for the A350 family. The Trent XWB is designed, tested and manufactured in Derby.

The A350F is another important programme for the UK’s aerospace manufacturing base. Airbus says its UK commercial aircraft operations at Filton, Broughton, Belfast and Prestwick sustain around 12,000 jobs. The planemaker works with around 1,900 UK suppliers.

Airbus targets Boeing’s freighter stronghold

The A350F gives Airbus a new contender in a large freighter market Boeing has dominated for decades with aircraft including the 747F and 777F.

Boeing’s own next-generation 777-8 freighter programme is also advancing, but the A350F’s first flight today cements Airbus’ lead.   

The A350F programme is a more significant attempt to compete in the cargo market than Airbus’ previous A330-200F, which achieved limited sales. Airbus has already secured 115 orders for the new cargo plane. 

For Airbus, the next 400 flight-test hours will determine whether the A350F remains on track to enter service in 2027.