Final assembly of MSN 700 has begun. The first aircraft of the new cargo version of the Airbus A350, the A350F, is now positioned in FAL, with the three main fuselage sections, the wing, and the horizontal stabilizer having been transported to the aircraft manufacturer’s Colomiers site in recent weeks.

Airbus will use two A350Fs for flight testing and the certification campaign, which will run from 2026 to 2027.

The A350F will be able to carry a payload of up to 111 tons and travel up to 4,700 nautical miles (8,700 kilometers), positioning it as the natural successor to Boeing’s current 777F, which is scheduled to end production in 2027. It will be based on the A350-1000, with the same engine (Trent XWB 97) and its 6-wheel bogie landing gear. However, its fuselage will be significantly shorter (70.8 meters). The aircraft will also feature a large dedicated cargo door cut into the left side behind the wings (MDCD – Main Deck Cargo Door), the widest on the market.

The freighter variant of the A350 platform is scheduled to enter service in the second half of 2027, with French freight airline CMA CGM Air Cargo being the launch customer. The A350F has recorded a total of 65 firm orders (as of August 30).