Airbus A350F completes its first successful test flight

Airbus has successfully completed the maiden flight of its A350F freighter prototype (MSN 700) in Toulouse, France. The test flight lasted 4 hours and 10 minutes, reaching an altitude of 25,000 feet to verify basic airworthiness and system performance.

Designed to compete with Boeing in the long-haul cargo market, the A350F features a payload capacity of up to 111 tonnes and a range of 8,700 kilometres. The aircraft is constructed with over 70% advanced materials and is powered by Rolls-Royce Trent XWB-97 engines, which Airbus claims can reduce fuel consumption and CO2 emissions by up to 40% compared to competing models.

A notable design feature is its extra-large cargo door, measuring approximately 4.3 metres wide, which is manufactured in Illescas, Spain. This allows for the efficient loading of large pallets and heavy equipment, such as turbofan engines.

The successful flight marks the beginning of a nine-month flight test campaign involving two prototypes. Airbus expects the A350F to enter commercial service in the second half of 2027. As of late August 2026, the program had already secured 115 orders from 14 customers.