Airbus A350F prototype fuselage sections arrive at Toulouse FAL
Another fuselage section and components will arrive soon ahead of the A350F final assembly line start in Toulouse.
Section 11/14 / Image: Airbus
The Airbus A350 freighter programme marked a key milestone as the nose and forward fuselage sections of the prototype A350F arrived at the final assembly line (FAL) in Toulouse.
Airbus told The STAT Trade Times that the fuselage sections 15/21 (central fuselage sections) arrived on August 19, while the fuselage sections 11/14 (forward fuselage sections) arrived on August 21. These were the first fuselage sections for the A350F test aircraft, transported from Saint-Nazaire Montoir to Toulouse on Beluga XL flights.
The company said that another fuselage section, along with other components, will arrive in the coming weeks in preparation for the start of the A350F final assembly line in Toulouse.
Section 15/21
Notably, Airbus recently completed the first horizontal stabiliser (HTP) for the A350 freighter at its facilities in Spain. The company is building two A350F units for flight testing, scheduled for 2026 and 2027.
The Airbus A350 freighter, with 65 orders as of July 2025, is expected to enter service in the second half of 2027, with CMA CGM as its launch customer.
The A350F will be capable of operating with up to 50% Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) at entry into service, with Airbus targeting 100% SAF capability by 2030. The freighter is designed to carry a payload of up to 111 tonnes.
Patria has signed an agreement with Airbus to provide composite component assemblies for the cargo hold of the new A350F aircraft.
