Airbus’ new A350F freighter has successfully completed its maiden flight, marking the start of the flight test programme for the latest member of the A350 family. The first of two test aircraft, MSN 700, took off from Toulouse on September 29 and remained airborne for four hours and ten minutes.

During the maiden flight, the A350F reached an altitude of 25,000 feet, while the crew focused on verifying the aircraft’s basic flight characteristics, overall handling and the performance of key systems. The aircraft is equipped with dedicated flight test instrumentation required for the certification programme.

“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 represents a significant step forward for the air cargo market, combining operational flexibility, fuel efficiency and range,” said 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,” Wagner added.

The maiden flight marks the beginning of a flight test campaign expected to last more than nine months. During this period, Airbus will verify the aircraft’s performance and systems across a wide range of operating conditions as part of the certification process.

The second A350F test aircraft, MSN 701, is currently at an advanced stage of final assembly and, according to Airbus, is expected to enter the paint shop within the next few weeks.

The A350F has been developed as the dedicated freighter version of the A350 family and is primarily intended for long-haul intercontinental cargo operations. According to Airbus, the aircraft will offer a maximum payload of up to 111 tonnes and a range of up to 8,700 kilometres.

More than 70% of the aircraft’s structure is made from advanced materials, helping reduce overall weight. Airbus states that the A350F has a maximum take-off weight 46 tonnes lower than competing aircraft with comparable payload capabilities.

The aircraft is powered by Rolls-Royce Trent XWB-97 engines. According to Airbus, the combination of the new structure, aerodynamics and propulsion system is expected to reduce fuel consumption and carbon emissions by up to 40% compared with existing competing freighters with a similar payload-range capability.

The A350F is also the first new large freighter designed to fully comply with the latest ICAO CO₂ emissions standards.

By the end of August 2026, Airbus had secured 115 orders for the A350F from 14 disclosed customers. The manufacturer says this represents a market share of up to 59% in the new large freighter segment.

The maiden flight was conducted by Captain and Test Pilot Bernardo Saez-Benito and First Officer and Experimental Test Pilot Sylvain Guiraud. Test Flight Engineer Ludovic Girard was also onboard, together with Lead Flight Test Engineers Laurent Bussiere and Jaime Angoloti.