Airbus has completed the first A350F flight-test aircraft as the freighter programme moves towards a tentative maiden flight in late September, potentially around 24 September. The target remains subject to change, but the timing would keep the long-delayed cargo jet on course for first delivery in the second half of 2027.
Reuters reported that the aircraft could lift off from Toulouse before the end of next month, with early October also possible if technical checks or weather intervene. Airbus has not formally confirmed the schedule beyond maintaining that the A350F should fly before the end of 2026 and enter service in the second half of 2027.
The A350F is Airbus’s dedicated large freighter and a central part of its challenge to Boeing in the cargo market. Flight trials typically run for 12 to 15 months, leaving a tight window for certification work if Airbus is to protect its delivery plan. The completion of the first test aircraft indicates the programme is advancing from assembly towards the start of its flight campaign.