A350F freighter reaches 25,000ft on first flight

The first of two test aircraft has flown for 4 hours and 10 minutes, starting a flight test campaign of more than nine months for Airbus’s large freighter.

The first of two A350F test aircraft (MSN 700) has completed its first flight. Powered by Rolls-Royce Trent XWB-97 engines and fitted with special flight test instrumentation, the freighter flew for 4 hours and 10 minutes, reaching an altitude of 25,000ft.

The aircraft was flown by a dedicated Airbus Flight Test crew comprising Captain and Test Pilot Bernardo Saez-Benito, First Officer and Experimental Test Pilot Sylvain Guiraud and Test Flight Engineer Ludovic Girard. Lead Flight Test Engineers Laurent Bussiere and Jaime Angoloti were also on board.

During the inaugural flight, the crew carried out tests focused on verifying basic airworthiness, fundamental flying qualities and that basic systems perform as predicted. The sortie is the start of a flight test campaign of more than nine months. The second prototype (MSN 701) is at an advanced stage of final assembly and will enter the paint shop in the next few weeks.

Lars Wagner, CEO Commercial Aircraft at Airbus, says: “As the latest development of our highly successful A350 platform, the A350F is a true game-changer for the air cargo market, combining unmatched operational flexibility, fuel efficiency and range.”

With a range of up to 8,700 kilometres and a payload of up to 111 tonnes, the A350F will allow operators to deploy it on international long-haul routes. Made of more than 70 per cent advanced materials, the aircraft has a maximum take-off weight (MTOW) 46 tonnes lighter than competitor aircraft. It will bring a reduction in fuel consumption and carbon emissions of up to 40 per cent compared with competitor aircraft of similar payload-range capability and is the first new freighter to fully meet ICAO’s latest CO₂ emissions standards.

The Trent XWB-97 has proven its versatility over eight years of service and more than 4.5 million engine flying hours on some of the longest and most demanding passenger operations. It has received the first two of three durability enhancement packages. The third, entering service in 2028, doubles time on wing in challenging environments and provides a 50 per cent improvement in benign conditions. The engine is certified to operate on a 50 per cent sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) blend and has been proven compatible with 100 per cent SAF.

Adam Davies, Director Commercial Aviation, Trent XWB, Rolls-Royce, adds: “For nearly a decade, our largest engine, the Trent XWB-97, has powered some of the world’s most demanding routes. Its proven in-service performance gives freight operators opportunities for increased payload and network expansion.”

At the end of August 2026, the A350F had recorded 115 orders from 14 disclosed customers and had captured up to 59 per cent market share in the large freighter category. Rolls-Royce has also captured almost 90 per cent of all A330ceo freighter conversions over the life of the programme and expects demand for 1,600 widebody freighters over the next 20 years.