Airbus has shared an updated schedule for its next-generation freighter, the A350F, confirming that preparations for the first prototype’s maiden flight in the third quarter of 2026 are progressing as planned. The company noted that the 4.3-meter-wide XL cargo door has not yet been installed on the first test aircraft, MSN700 (F-WXFR), but is expected to be ready in early 2026. Airbus emphasized that the timing is a deliberate choice to allow structural improvements to be completed, rather than the result of any technical issue.
Airbus reports that fuselage assembly of the first prototype is complete and that extensive static tests are currently underway across approximately 30 test benches. The initial aircraft will undertake a 300-hour flight test program, while the second prototype, MSN701 (F-WCGO), is scheduled to perform 110 hours of flight testing, focusing on air-conditioning performance, smoke detection, low-visibility takeoff procedures, and customer demonstration flights. Additional procedural tests will be conducted to validate the new loading standards for the A350F.
Certification of the A350F is targeted for the second quarter of 2027. Airbus highlights that building the aircraft on the A350-1000 platform offers advantages in both the EASA and FAA certification processes, and notes that the aircraft’s payload capability may be increased in the future as more operational data becomes available. The company has now accumulated 82 orders from 13 customers for its new freighter.
