Airbus A350F takes maiden flight with 111-ton payload and 5,400-mile range

Airbus’s A350F cargo jet has taken to the skies for the first time and completed a four-hour-and-10-minute maiden flight that saw the aircraft climb to an altitude of 25,000 feet.

The A350F freighter (MSN 700), the first of two test aircraft, completed its maiden flight after it took off from Toulouse, France, on Tuesday, September 29. The feat marked the start of the aircraft’s flight-testing campaign.

According to Airbus, the jet remained in the air for four hours and 10 minutes. It reached a maximum altitude of 25,000 feet. It was equipped with specialized flight-test instruments and flown by a dedicated Airbus test crew.

“This maiden flight is a major milestone for the A350F and for our customers worldwide,” Lars Wagner, Airbus’ commercial aircraft CEO, said. “As the latest development of our highly successful A350 platform, the A350F is a true game-changer for the air cargo market, combining unmatched operational flexibility, fuel efficiency, and range.”

A350F begins testing

During the flight, the crew checked the aircraft’s basic airworthiness and handling. They also tested its main systems to make sure they were working as expected. A second A350F test aircraft, MSN 701, is currently at an advanced stage of final assembly. It is expected to enter the paint shop within the next few weeks.

The A350F is the cargo version of Airbus’ A350 platform and was developed for long-haul freight operations. The aircraft is designed to carry a payload of up to 111 tons and has a range of up to 5,400 miles (8,700 kilometers), allowing airlines to operate it on international long-haul routes.

The A350F completed its maiden flight on September 29, 2026. Credit: Airbus

According to Airbus, over 70 percent of the jet is made from advanced materials. This makes it up to 46 tons lighter at takeoff than competing freighters. What’s more, the A350F is powered by two Rolls-Royce Trent XWB-97 engines.

Airbus claimed that the combination could reduce fuel consumption and carbon emissions by up to 40 percent compared with competing aircraft offering similar payload and range capabilities. The A350F is the first newly developed freighter designed to fully comply with the latest International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) carbon dioxide emissions standards.

New orders secured

The company has reportedly attracted over 100 orders for the new freighter even as flight testing gets underway. The A350F had secured a total of 115 orders from 14 disclosed customers at the end of August 2026.

According to Airbus, the aircraft has captured as much as 59 percent of the large freighter market. “I am immensely proud of the extraordinary dedication and hard work of all the teams who have made this achievement possible,” Wagner shared in a press release.

The maiden flight marked the beginning of a flight-testing campaign expected to run for more than nine months. Credit: Airbus

The maiden flight was conducted by Captain and Test Pilot Bernardo Saez-Benito and First Officer and Experimental Test Pilot Sylvain Guiraud. Test Flight Engineer Ludovic Girard was also onboard, along with Lead Flight Test Engineers Laurent Bussiere and Jaime Angoloti.

Julien Puyou, Airbus’ Widebody Program head, stressed that the flightmarked the culmination of years of engineering, testing, and assembly. “From a bold vision on paper in 2021 to seeing the A350F fly for the first time today, this milestone is a triumph of pioneering spirit and collective determination,” Puyou concluded.