Airbus Completes First A350 Freighter Test Flight, Targets Late 2027 Delivery

Airbus (EPA: AIR) completed the maiden test flight of its A350 widebody freighter on Sept. 29, 2026, advancing toward first commercial delivery in late 2027 and a direct challenge to Boeing's cargo market dominance. The aircraft has 103 orders from 14 customers. The four-hour, 10-minute flight departed Toulouse, France, reached 25,000 feet and validated basic airworthiness and systems with a five-man crew. Flight testing will run nine months before Airbus seeks European Union Aviation Safety Agency type certification. A second prototype is in advanced final assembly. The A350F, derived from the A350-1000, carries a 111-metric-ton payload and the industry's largest cargo door at 175 inches. Airbus claims up to 40% lower fuel consumption and carbon emissions than older freighters.