Airbus A350F Freighter Scheduled for First Flight in September 2026

en.Wedoany.com Reported - Airbus is preparing for the A350F freighter's first flight this September, operating under a tight schedule with the goal of achieving its first delivery by the end of 2027. According to Reuters, although the A350F is expected to take to the skies next month, any minor issue could push the timeline into October. Airbus aims to maintain momentum for this model, targeting completion of flight testing and the first delivery by the end of 2027.

The A350F program was launched in 2021 with an initial goal of flying the aircraft in 2025, a target that has since been delayed. Airbus now hopes to deliver the first aircraft to customers in the second half of 2027. Developed as a cargo version based on the A350 long-haul passenger aircraft, this model is seen as a key product for Airbus to open a stronger competitive door in the air cargo sector, long dominated by Boeing. To date, Airbus has sold 107 A350F units featuring lightweight composite materials, a significant improvement over the A330F, which has secured only 38 orders and deliveries.

The A350F is the first freighter based on a modern aircraft that extensively utilizes advanced lightweight composite materials. While not an entirely new design, advanced materials account for approximately 30% of the aircraft, with the wings, fuselage panels, and center wing box all made from composites. This makes the aircraft stronger, lighter, and more cost-effective, with expected lower maintenance requirements compared to competitors.

The A350F's direct competitor is the Boeing 777-8F freighter, which, despite delays in its service entry, is still being developed as one of the world's next-generation cargo aircraft. The A350F offers high versatility compared to the A330, and construction of its first fuselage began in 2025. Airbus claims that, thanks to lower maintenance needs than the 777-8F, the A350F will provide customers with up to 65 additional revenue days over its 16-year service life—a claim Boeing may contest for its freighter. Powered by Rolls-Royce Trent XWB engines, the new design is expected to deliver fuel efficiency improvements of up to 20% and reduce carbon dioxide emissions; compared to the 747F, fuel efficiency is said to improve by up to 40%.

In terms of orders, Atlas Air has become the largest customer of the A350F to date with an order of 20 aircraft, with deliveries scheduled between 2029 and 2034, making it the model's largest operator. Atlas placed its order in March 2026, planning to use these aircraft to supplement its existing extensive fleet while addressing long-term growth demand following the retirement of the 747-400. Other major orders include: Air China Cargo with 10 aircraft, AviLease with 10, Etihad Airways with 10, Starlux Airlines with 10, Cathay Pacific with 8, CMA CGM Air Cargo with 8, Korean Air with 7, Singapore Airlines with 7, and Turkish Airlines with 5. Order data is sourced from aviation data agency ch-aviation.

The A350F is developed based on the popular A350-1000F aircraft, which has demonstrated outstanding performance on ultra-long-haul routes, including Qantas's upcoming Project Sunrise initiative. At that time, the Australian flag carrier will, for the first time, connect Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport (SYD) with London Heathrow Airport (LHR) and New York John F. Kennedy Airport (JFK) using scheduled flights.