Airbus successfully completed the first test flight of its A350 widebody freighter on Tuesday, Sept. 29, 2026. The aircraft took off from Toulouse, France, for a four-hour, 10-minute flight that reached 25,000 feet and verified basic airworthiness and system performance.
With 103 orders from 14 customers secured, the A350F is positioned as the first production aircraft designed to directly compete with Boeing's cargo market dominance. Airbus targets late 2027 for first commercial delivery.
The A350F is built on the A350-1000 passenger airframe but with a shortened fuselage, a 175-inch main deck cargo door positioned behind the wing, and a reinforced metallic floor instead of the composite flooring in passenger versions. The design allows simultaneous loading from the main deck and two lower holds. The aircraft carries a 111 metric-ton payload and features a digitally controlled cargo loading system.
Extensive composite construction reduces weight, cutting fuel consumption and emissions compared with older freighter models. A second prototype is entering final assembly.
Competitively, the A350F and Boeing's 777-8 freighter are within three percent in fuel burn and cash operating costs, with both offering 20 percent efficiency gains over prior-generation cargo jets. The A350F's advantage lies in earlier service entry and operational commonality with the A350 passenger fleet, which reduces pilot training costs for airlines already operating the platform.
Flight testing will continue for nine months, followed by certification from the European Union Aviation Safety Agency. Some analysts forecast first revenue service in 2028 rather than late 2027.
Demand for widebody freighters is accelerating as older aircraft retire and global cargo capacity tightens.
