European aircraft manufacturer Airbus has reached a major milestone in the A350F freighter program with the successful completion of the first wing set assembly. The milestone was achieved on May 30 at Airbus’ facility in Broughton, United Kingdom.
The freighter version shares the same wing design as the A350 passenger model, enabling both variants to be assembled on the same production line—significantly boosting manufacturing efficiency. The completed wings will be transported to Bremen, Germany, aboard the BelugaXL, where systems integration will take place. They will then be transferred to Toulouse, France, for final assembly.
Airbus is currently producing two A350F test aircraft, with first flights scheduled for 2026–2027. However, due to supply chain issues involving Spirit AeroSystems, the freighter’s entry into service has been postponed to the second half of 2027.
So far, Airbus has received 63 orders for the A350F. Customers include Singapore Airlines (7), Cathay Pacific (6), Etihad Airways (7), CMA CGM (8), Turkish Airlines (5), and other major operators.
The new A350F will compete directly with Boeing’s 777-8F, which has secured 59 orders. Both aircraft are designed to replace current freighters that will be phased out due to new environmental regulations taking effect in 2027.
