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Airbus flies the A350F freighter for the first time

Airbus's new A350F freighter made its first flight from Toulouse on 29 September, opening a nine month certification campaign against Boeing's competing 777-8F.

29 September 2026

Airbus flew the first A350F freighter, test aircraft MSN700 registered F-WXLD, from Toulouse Blagnac on 29 September 2026. The jet departed runway 14R at 10:30 local time and landed on runway 14L four hours and eleven minutes later, after the crew tested basic airworthiness and handling qualities at altitudes up to around 25,000 feet. Airbus said the flight opens a certification campaign of about nine months and roughly 400 flight hours, with entry into service still targeted for 2027.

The A350F is an all new freighter derivative of the A350 widebody, powered by Rolls Royce Trent XWB-97 engines, with a payload of up to 111 tonnes and a range of up to 8,700 kilometers. Airbus says the aircraft burns up to 40 percent less fuel than older freighters of similar payload and range, and is the first new production freighter to meet the latest ICAO carbon dioxide emissions standard. Its main deck cargo door is about 15 percent wider than the door on Boeing's 777 freighter, wide enough to load a spare wide body engine.

The aircraft is Airbus's direct challenger to Boeing's delayed 777-8 freighter in the large freighter market. As of the end of August 2026, Airbus had booked 115 A350F orders against 81 orders for the 777-8F, giving Airbus a majority of the large freighter order book before either jet enters service.

In plain terms

A first flight is the start of the flight test program a new aircraft type has to complete before regulators will certify it to carry passengers or cargo, not the end of development.

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