Airbus has set a tentative maiden flight for its A350F freighter in the third week of September, with a potential delay into early October, according to industry sources. The schedule remains finely balanced as Airbus seeks to complete flight testing and secure certification before the end of next year to meet its delivery timeline.
Flight trials for the A350F are expected to span 12 to 15 months, according to standard industry practice. An Airbus spokesperson reiterated the company's prior guidance that the maiden flight would occur before the end of 2024, followed by the first customer delivery in the second half of 2027.
The A350F is a dedicated freighter variant of Airbus's long-haul A350 jet family, designed to compete with Boeing in the cargo aircraft market. Launched in 2021, the program originally aimed for service entry four years later, though recent reports have suggested potential delays.
Airbus has secured 107 orders for the lightweight composite A350F, a significant increase over the 38 orders for the older A330F model. Earlier this year, Reuters reported delays related to cargo doors built by Airbus in Spain for the new freighter. Aviation publication Leeham News separately noted that A350F deliveries could slip into 2028, underscoring the challenges in ramping up production and certification.
