Airbus targets September maiden flight for A350F freighter

Airbus has tentatively set the first flight of its delayed A350F freighter for the third week of September, according to industry sources. This move aims to challenge Boeing's long-standing dominance in the cargo aircraft market. The schedule, however, is tight and could potentially slip into early October, impacting the planemaker's timeline for flight testing and achieving its first delivery before the end of next year.

Flight trials for such aircraft typically span 12 to 15 months. An Airbus spokesperson stated that the company had nothing further to add beyond its most recent predictions of a maiden flight by the end of this year, with the first delivery slated for the second half of 2027. The A350F, a dedicated freighter version of the A350 long-haul jet, was initially launched in 2021 with a goal of entering service four years later.

Airbus has secured 107 orders for the A350F, contrasting with 38 orders for its smaller and older A330F model. Previous reports in May indicated that Airbus was experiencing delays related to cargo doors manufactured in Spain for the new freighter. Aviation publication Leeham News has also reported that A350F deliveries might be pushed back into 2028.