Airbus says A350F is built by Airbus, designed by the market

Airbus’ A350F freighter has completed its maiden flight from Toulouse, marking the start of a certification campaign that the manufacturer expects will lead to EASA type certification and the aircraft’s entry into service.

The first flight-test aircraft, MSN700, was airborne for four hours and 10 minutes. It climbed to 25,000ft and reached an indicated airspeed of 340kt during the sortie.

A five-person crew led by captain and experimental test pilot Bernardo Saez-Benito Hernandez operated the aircraft, alongside first officer and experimental test pilot Sylvain Guiraud, test flight engineer Ludovic Girard, and flight-test engineers Laurent Bussiere and Jaime Angoloti Benavides.

The aircraft took off in direct law and climbed progressively to 10,000ft before continuing to 25,000ft. Airbus said the crew confirmed that aerodynamic and structural behaviour matched pre-flight models before activating normal law and validating the full-flight-envelope protections. The test programme also included checks of the aircraft’s pressurisation, communications and navigation systems.

Certification programme begins
The flight launches a planned certification campaign involving approximately 400 flight hours over around 10 months. MSN700 will focus on handling qualities, autopilot systems and aircraft performance. It has been fitted with a specialised tail skid and bumper to protect the structure in the event of runway contact during take-off performance testing.

A second flight-test aircraft, MSN701, has completed final assembly and is undergoing ground testing before entering the paint shop. It will be used for systems-related testing, including air-conditioning, water and waste systems, and comprehensive smoke-detection trials. MSN701 will also undertake hot- and cold-weather testing and customer visits.

“This maiden flight is a major milestone for the A350F and for our customers worldwide,” said Lars Wagner, chief executive of commercial aircraft at Airbus.

Julien Puyou, Airbus head of widebody programme, described the aircraft’s first flight as “a triumph of pioneering spirit and collective determination” since the A350F programme was launched in 2021.

“Looking back at where we started when we launched the A350F programme, turning a revolutionary composite freighter design into physical reality has been an extraordinary human and industrial journey,” Puyou said.

He added that the programme had brought together engineering work across Europe and beyond, including development of what Airbus describes as the largest main-deck cargo door in commercial aviation, large-scale demonstrator testing, final assembly, flight-test instrumentation, ground testing and virtual-development simulations.

Payload-led design
Powered by Rolls-Royce Trent XWB-97 engines, the A350F is designed to carry a payload of up to 111 tonnes over a range of up to 8,700km.

Airbus says the aircraft can reduce fuel burn and CO₂ emissions by up to 40% compared with competing aircraft in a similar payload-range category. The manufacturer also says the A350F is the first new freighter designed to fully meet ICAO’s latest CO₂ standards.

Sarah McLaren, Airbus head of widebody and freighter marketing, said the aircraft’s payload capability differentiates it from passenger variants of the A350.

“The operation of a freighter is very different from a passenger aircraft; payload is the key point,” McLaren said. “The largest A350 in our family, the A350-1000, typically carries a payload of around 50 tonnes in a 370-passenger configuration. The A350F can effectively carry more than double that payload, at 111 tonnes, which is a real requirement for that kind of operation.”

McLaren added that airline input had been incorporated into the programme from an early stage.

“What we can say is that the A350F has been built by Airbus, but really it is designed by the market,” she said.

Orderbook reaches 115 aircraft
As of the end of August 2026, Airbus had secured 115 A350F orders from 14 customers. The manufacturer says this gives it up to 59% of the large freighter market.

Etihad Airways is among the customers, with 10 aircraft on order. Representatives from Etihad Cargo attended the maiden flight in Toulouse.

“I’m very excited to be here today in Toulouse to witness the first flight of the A350 freighter,” said Leonard Rodrigues, vice president of cargo revenue at Etihad. “The A350 programme is the cornerstone of Etihad Cargo’s ambitious growth, and witnessing this key milestone is a very important step on the path that will lead us to operate 10 of these aircraft in the coming years.”

Crawford Hamilton, Airbus head of freighter marketing, said the orderbook represented a return to the cargo market for the European manufacturer.

“Airbus is back in freight again,” Hamilton said.

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