Airbus A350F maiden flight set for September 29

Airbus has confirmed that the maiden flight of its new‑generation freighter, the A350F, is scheduled for Tuesday, September 29, with take‑off at 10:20 CET from Toulouse, France. The European airframer will stream the event live, marking a major milestone for the programme.

The company cautions that the schedule remains subject to operational requirements, including weather conditions, and could still shift.

The flight will be conducted by a five‑person crew: two pilots, one test flight engineer (TFE), and two flight test engineers (FTE). It launches a certification campaign expected to last around nine months, using two dedicated test aircraft, MSN700 and MSN701.

Ahead of the maiden flight, Airbus completed a critical pre‑flight milestone on Friday, September 25: a high‑speed rejected take‑off (RTO) test. In this exercise, the prototype accelerated to near decision speed before the crew deliberately aborted, closing throttles and applying maximum braking to prove the aircraft can stop safely under worst‑case conditions.

The A350F's first flight follows months of assembly, ground testing, and simulator work. Though based on the A350‑1000, the freighter features a unique fuselage — combining the A350‑900 forward section with the A350‑1000 rear section and wings — creating a new aerodynamic model. Roughly 10% of its characteristics remain unverified, so the first flight will be flown in basic "Direct Law" rather than "Normal Law." Crews rehearsed through a 13‑session "Virtual First Flight" simulator programme before dedicated sessions in September. MSN700 will focus on aerodynamic performance and flight‑control law clearance, while MSN701 will follow in Normal Law to concentrate on systems and fire/smoke testing.

Built from more than 70% advanced materials, the A350F features the industry's largest cargo door and targets up to 40% lower fuel burn, positioning it as the first freighter to meet ICAO's latest CO₂ standards.

Launched in 2021, the A350F is designed to carry up to 111 tonnes over a range of roughly 8,700 km, powered by Rolls‑Royce Trent XWB‑97 engines. Its 4.3‑metre‑wide main‑deck cargo door is intended to simplify and speed up ground handling.

As of Airbus's August 2026 orders and deliveries report, the A350F backlog stands at 115 firm orders from at least 14 customers. That total includes an eight‑aircraft order booked on August 31, lifting the backlog from 107 at the end of July. Airbus began 2026 with 81 orders, so the tally has grown about 42% this year, driven largely by Atlas Air's 20‑aircraft order in March, making it the largest A350F customer, along with commitments from Air China Cargo and Cathay Pacific.

The A350F will compete directly with Boeing's larger 777‑8F, another new‑generation freighter still in development. As of July 2026, the 777‑8F had accumulated 81 orders, compared with the A350F's order book at the time, with MSC Air Cargo among recent customers after ordering five aircraft at the Farnborough International Airshow.