Airbus took 115 orders for its new cargo jet. Today it flew.
Airbus flew its first A350F freighter from Toulouse on 29 September. The test aircraft, MSN 700, took off at about 10:30 CET with five crew aboard. It climbed to 25,000 feet during a flight lasting 4 hours 10 minutes, Airbus says. The take-off streamed live on YouTube, where the broadcast passed 780,000 views that afternoon.
Airbus says the jet can carry up to 111 tonnes over up to 8,700 km. Cargo is loaded through what Airbus calls the industry's largest main-deck cargo door. It also says the A350F burns up to 40% less fuel than rival freighters with a similar payload and range. At the end of August, the A350F held 115 orders from 14 disclosed customers.
A second test aircraft will join a flight-test programme of about 400 hours, and Aviation A2Z reports first deliveries in the second half of 2027.
For air freight buyers, two questions matter more than today's take-off: when operators put these jets into service, and how many of them add capacity rather than replace older freighters.
How much of the A350F backlog do you expect to add net capacity?
🎥 Video: Airbus, official YouTube channel · narration: AI voice
What the captions say
- Airbus's first A350F freighter took off today.
- Toulouse, 29 September, five crew aboard.
- 4 hours 10 minutes, up to 25,000 feet.
- Built to carry up to 111 tonnes.
- Airbus says 40% less fuel than rivals.
- 115 orders before its first flight.
- First deliveries due in late 2027.
- The cargo door reads: open here for business.
