Airbus A350F takes to the skies on maiden flight

The Airbus A350F freighter (MSN 700), the first of two test aircraft, has completed its first flight. Fitted with special flight-test instrumentation, the aircraft flew for 4 hours and 10 minutes and reached an altitude of 25,000 feet. The aircraft was flown by a dedicated Airbus flight-test crew.

“This maiden flight is a major milestone for the A350F and for our customers worldwide. As the latest development of our highly successful A350 platform, the A350F is a true game-changer for the air cargo market, combining unmatched operational flexibility, fuel efficiency, and range,” stated Lars Wagner, CEO, Commercial Aircraft at Airbus. “I am immensely proud of the extraordinary dedication and hard work of all the teams who have made this achievement possible.”

The second A350F prototype (MSN 701) is at an advanced stage of final assembly and is expected to enter the paint shop in the next few weeks, according to Airbus.

During the inaugural flight, the crew carried out tests focused on verifying the aircraft’s basic airworthiness and fundamental flying qualities, as well as ensuring that its basic systems performed as predicted. This marks the start of a flight-test campaign lasting more than nine months.

Airbus says the A350F is designed to meet the evolving demands of the global air freight market, offering a range of up to 8,700 kilometres and a payload capacity of up to 111 tonnes. The freighter is built with more than 70% advanced materials, resulting in a maximum take-off weight (MTOW) that is 46 tonnes lower than that of competing aircraft.

Powered by Rolls-Royce Trent XWB-97 engines, the A350F is expected to deliver up to 40% lower fuel consumption and carbon emissions compared with competing aircraft offering a similar payload-range capability. The aircraft is the first new freighter to fully meet the latest ICAO CO₂ emission standards.

As of the end of August 2026, the A350F had secured 115 orders from 14 disclosed customers and held up to 59% of the large freighter market, according to Airbus.

The aircraft was flown by Captain & Test Pilot Bernardo Saez-Benito, First Officer and Experimental Test Pilot Sylvain Guiraud, together with Test Flight Engineer Ludovic Girard. In addition, Lead Flight Test Engineers Laurent Bussiere and Jaime Angoloti were onboard.