Singapore, February 4, 2026. Airbus has confirmed that the A350F, the freighter programme is progressing, marking major industrial milestones with the first development aircraft currently in final assembly, and the programme securing a 54% market share in the new-generation large freighter segment.
Industrially, the programme is now fully underway. Sections for the second development aircraft, MSN 701, are arriving in the Final Assembly Line (FAL) in Toulouse, France, and first aircraft MSN 700 is continuing the assembly process that started in Q3 2025.
“The A350F programme is progressing according to our development plan, and the entry of the first aircraft into the FAL was a major achievement for the teams involved,” said Crawford Hamilton, Head of Freighter Marketing at Airbus. “It reinforces our confidence in the aircraft, the programme’s execution and our long-term freighter strategy.”
Airbus remains on track for first flight later in 2026, with entry into service planned in 2027. A two-aircraft flight test campaign will be conducted using MSN 700 and MSN 701. The two development aircraft will be involved in a light flight test campaign of around 600 hours in total, covering various areas such as the cargo loading system, main deck cargo door, environmental control system and smoke detection.
The A350F certification basis has been established with EASA, and multiple full-scale development and certification test benches are already in operation. These benches are designed to de-risk the flight test programme and ensure a high level of maturity at entry into service.
A key feature of the A350F is its main-deck cargo door – the largest of any commercial aircraft, with a clear opening width of 4.3 metres (169 inches). It is the industry’s first composite main-deck cargo door, delivering weight savings, and features an electrically powered opening system aligned with the A350’s architecture. Its rear-fuselage position helps maintain a safe centre of gravity during loading.
Asia-Pacific remains a key growth market for the A350F. Recent commitments include Korean Air’s conversion of seven A350-1000 orders to A350F freighters, Air China Cargo’s order for six aircraft, and STARLUX Airlines’ order for five additional A350Fs. These add to earlier orders from Cathay Cargo and Singapore Airlines Cargo.
Asia-Pacific air cargo traffic grew by 9% in 2025, outpacing global growth rates, driven by expanding industrial economies across the region. Over the next 20 years, Airbus forecasts demand for 2,605 new freighters worldwide, with Asia-Pacific accounting for around one-third of deliveries.
“The data is clear: the future of air cargo is centred in Asia-Pacific,” said Crawford Hamilton, Head of Freighter Marketing at Airbus. “Strong regional order momentum and market share underline customer confidence in the A350F. With its record-breaking cargo door, superior fuel efficiency and solid customer backing, it is the right aircraft at the right time for this market.”
With its strong market position, advancing industrial maturity and first flight planned for 2026, the A350F is positioned as a core element of Airbus’ long-term freighter strategy and a key platform for the next generation of global air cargo operations.
