Airbus has installed the A350F’s massive 4.3-meter-wide main deck cargo door in Toulouse, completing the final major structural component for the freighter’s first flight targeted for Q3 2026.
This rear-fuselage door, 15% wider than the Boeing 777F’s, enables one-go loading of large items like high-bypass engines in minutes rather than hours, boosting operational efficiency for cargo operators.
The composite-structured door features an all-electric actuation system, aligning with the A350 family’s more-electric architecture and eliminating hydraulic dependencies.
Its aft location maintains a safe center of gravity during loading by allowing containers to move forward from the rear.
With 82 firm orders as of late 2025—capturing 58% of the large widebody freighter market versus the 777-8F—the A350F offers 111-tonne payload, 8,700 km range, and volume equal to the 747F with five tonnes more capacity than the 777F.
Promising 20% lower fuel burn and CO2 emissions, the programme’s first aircraft (MSN700) has rolled out of final assembly, advancing toward 2027 service entry and reshaping long-haul air cargo economics.