TOULOUSE — Airbus recently hosted a digital press conference to provide updates about its brand-new freighter, the A350F. Air freight accounts for 1% of the world's total trade, yet represents 30% of its value. The largest markets are those from Asia-Pacific to Europe and to North America.

Airbus expects demand for 2,600 freighters between 2025 and 2044, divided between 935 new-built freighters and 1,670 conversions. The OEM forecasts the need for 1,120 aircraft with a payload of 10-40 tons, 855 aircraft with a payload of 40-80 tons, and 630 aircraft with a payload exceeding 80 tons. The demand includes both converted passenger-to-freighter aircraft and purpose-built units.

As of the end of October, the A350F had received 74 firm orders from airlines worldwide, with eight more added in November, for a total of 82 units. This represents 58% of the large freighter market share, with the Boeing 777-8F receiving 59 firm orders to date.

The first A350F is expected to take off in Q3 2026. Two aircraft, F-WXLD (MSN 700) and F-WCGO (MSN 701), will be used for the 9-month certification campaign; the A350F will not require new-type certification as part of the A350 family. Airbus is targeting certification completion by the second quarter of 2027.

The aircraft’s MTOW will be 319 tonnes, with a zero fuel weight of 238 tonnes. It will be capable of carrying a payload of up to 111 tonnes, with 30 M-size pallets on the main deck. Cabin altitude will be the same as that of the A350 family at 6,000 feet. The aircraft will feature the same engines as the A350-1000, namely the Rolls-Royce Trent XWB-97. The engine’s certification remains valid for the A350F.

For training and maintenance, the A350 will feature the same type rating for pilots and technicians as the A350 family, with 95% spare commonality and 87% tooling commonality. Testing has already started for the A350F; MSN 700 is expected to carry out 300 flight test hours, while MSN 701 will be flown for around a third of the time.