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Airbus A350 Freighter Completes Maiden Test Flight

Airbus successfully flew its new A350 widebody freighter for the first time Tuesday, advancing the aircraft toward commercial deployment in late 2027. The four-hour, 10-minute test flight departed from the airframer's Toulouse, France facility and reached 25,000 feet altitude. A five-person crew, including three test engineers, verified basic airworthiness and system performance during the inaugural mission. The aircraft has 103 orders from 14 customers, positioning Airbus to challenge Boeing's cargo market dominance for the first time with a next-generation widebody freighter. Airbus will conduct nine months of additional flight testing before seeking type certification from the European Union Aviation Safety Agency. A second A350F prototype is undergoing final assembly and will enter the paint shop in the coming weeks. The freighter features a 111-metric-ton payload capacity, an industry-leading 175-inch cargo door, and composite construction reducing fuel consumption and emissions by up to 40% compared to older cargo aircraft.