Air Cargo

Airbus A350F Freighter Set for Maiden Flight on September 29

Airbus will conduct the first flight of its A350 freighter prototype on September 29, subject to fulfilling all operational requirements and favorable weather conditions. The European manufacturer announced the milestone with the flight to be livestreamed publicly.

Joël Rocker, chief engineer for the A350F program, said the initial aircraft will undergo flight line checks before entering formal flight testing. A second prototype is currently progressing through final assembly.

Airbus aims to begin customer deliveries by year-end 2027, with simultaneous certification from the European Union Aviation Safety Agency and Federal Aviation Administration targeted for mid-2026 under Amendment 27 regulations. The airframer recently revealed the first A350F's livery, designed to resemble a cargo parcel.