Airbus A350F freighter successfully performs its maiden flight
Airbus’ A350F freighter has completed its maiden flight in Toulouse, beginning a nine-month test campaign. The new aircraft promises long-range capability, improved efficiency and reduced emissions for global cargo operations.
Airbus A350F freighter successfully performs its maiden flight
Toulouse, France, 29 September 2026 – The A350F freighter (MSN 700), the first of two
test aircraft, has completed its first flight. The aircraft, fitted with special flight test
instrumentation, flew for 4 hours 10 minutes reaching an altitude of 25,000 feet. The aircraft
was flown by a dedicated Airbus Flight Test crew.
"This maiden flight is a major milestone for the A350F and for our customers worldwide. As
the latest development of our highly successful A350 platform, the A350F is a true
game-changer for the air cargo market, combining unmatched operational flexibility, fuel
efficiency, and range," stated Lars Wagner, CEO Commercial Aircraft at Airbus. “I am
immensely proud of the extraordinary dedication and hard work of all the teams who have
made this achievement possible.”
The second A350F prototype (MSN 701) is now at an advanced stage of final assembly and
will enter the paint shop in the next few weeks.
During this inaugural flight, the crew carried out tests focused on verifying the basic
airworthiness, fundamental flying qualities, and ensuring basic systems perform as
predicted. This marks the start of an over 9 months flight test campaign.
Designed to be the world's most advanced cargo aircraft, the A350F meets the evolving
demands of the global air freight market. Thanks to a range capability of up to 8,700
kilometres and a payload of up to 111 tonnes, it will allow operators to deploy it on
international long-haul routes. Made of over 70% advanced materials, the A350F is resulting
in a 46 tonnes lighter maximum take-off weight (MTOW) compared to competitor aircraft.
Powered by the latest Rolls-Royce Trent XWB-97 engines, the aircraft will bring a reduction
in fuel consumption and carbon emissions of up to 40% compared to competitor aircraft with
a similar payload-range capability. It is the first new freighter to fully meet the latest ICAO's
CO2 emission standards. At the end of August 2026, the A350F had already recorded 115
orders from 14 disclosed customers and it had captured up to 59% market share in the large
freighter category.
