Airbus Stages Maiden Flight of New A350F Freighter
The freighter will spend about nine months in certification trials as Airbus seeks to challenge Boeing’s dominance in global cargo operations.
- On Tuesday, Airbus flew its new A350F freighter for the first time in Toulouse, France, marking a significant milestone for the European manufacturer in its bid to challenge Boeing's cargo dominance.
- The freighter is built using the A350-1000 platform to compete with Boeing's 777 and 747 series, which currently handle the bulk of global air cargo operations.
- Airbus has secured more than 100 orders for the aircraft, including 20 from Atlas Air, a major air freight operator that previously maintained a loyal relationship with Boeing.
- The flight launches nine months of certification trials ahead of commercial service. Although originally scheduled for 2025, the A350F is now expected to enter service in the second half of next year.
- Rising demand for air cargo stems from geopolitical issues in the Red Sea and Hormuz, where maritime shipping routes have faced significant delays and damage.
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So far absent from a market monopolized by Boeing, the European aircraft manufacturer took off on 29 September, for the first time in its history, a large carrier for high tonnage air logistics.
The global market for air freight is growing. One reason is the political crises and their consequences for sea routes. The European aircraft manufacturer Airbus wants to profit from this. With a new model, the Group is addressing the US competitor Boeing in the fight.
The A350F, cargo version of Airbus' long-haul aircraft, egressed for the first time in the air from Toulouse-Blagnac Airport on Tuesday, September 29, 2026, at 10:30 a.m. The test flight lasted 4 hours and 10 minutes at an altitude of 7,620 metres (25 000 feet).
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