As Airbus gears up for the delivery of its A350 freighter in 2026, the company has been making significant strides in the development and testing phases of its next-generation aircraft. 

“We’re starting to get parts of the wing box, the carbon fibre shells, and the tooling necessary to build the aircraft,” Crawford Hamilton, Airbus’s Head of Freighter Marketing, explained.

“This phase is crucial as Airbus transitions from design to industrialisation, ensuring every component is meticulously tested.

“We will be testing two development aircraft. This involves both static and dynamic testing to ensure systems function.

The aircraft manufacturer simulates real-world conditions to validate the aircraft’s robustness and reliability, putting it under the microscope to identify and rectify potential issues before the aircraft enters service.

“We are focused on the integrity of the door, structural reinforcements, and other components to ensure they perform reliably in service,” he continued.

“Our showroom mock-up will soon be ready, showcasing full-size components like the door, even before the actual aircraft is completed.

“We’re moving from PowerPoint presentations to tangible reality.

Commonality offers confidence 

One of the standout features highlighted by Airbus when promoting the A350F to potential customers is its commonality with the passenger variant of the aircraft. This enhances both development and operational efficiencies, with combination carriers, like Cathay Pacific, already aware of its capabilities and performance.

This aircraft Family concept translates into confidence for airlines, knowing that the freighter shares the same proven platform, cockpit and operational procedures, benefiting airlines by optimising pilot training and integration.

“The A350 platform is mature, which means we can confidently say its performance and reliability are well-established. Customers are familiar with the aircraft and are very satisfied with its capabilities, though continuous improvements are always being made,” Hamilton outlined.

“With the A350-1000 being the latest large passenger aircraft certified in 2019, it benefits from a robust certification basis. This enhances the overall certainty and reliability of the aircraft.

“The in-service experience is substantial, with over a million flight hours for the A350-1000 and over nine million for the entire A350 program. This extensive operational history builds trust and allows us to focus on refining the freight-specific aspects of the aircraft, where most challenges lie.

“Repeating proven processes is much easier than starting from scratch, and we leverage this experience in various areas, such as door design.

“We’ve built a large carbon door before and now we’re simply scaling that to a larger size. This predictability reduces challenges and provides a secure foundation to work from.

“It all allows for a seamless transition between different aircraft types, reducing operational complexity and costs.”

Market demand

The A350F is positioned to replace ageing freighters and meet growing demand across the airfreight sector, particularly in regions like Asia and the USA, driven by the growth of e-commerce and the need for efficient, high-capacity aircraft.

The aircraft has already attracted significant attention, with ten customers, including Air France, Cathay Cargo, Etihad Cargo and Singapore Airlines Cargo, ordering 55 freighters so far.

“Broadly speaking, the fundamentals we had when launching the aircraft are still relevant today. We are positioned to ride the replacement wave for older aircraft,” Hamilton explained.

“We are seeing global interest, which is encouraging. The market is stabilising post-COVID, leading to more pragmatic interest from various parties. Our global market forecast predicts a solid 3.2% growth (annual growth 2019-2042).

“So, we anticipate significant activity in the market over the next year or two.

“The joy lies in seeing everything come together. For instance, we’ll be able to show our customers tangible progress, allowing them to see parts of the freighter being assembled.

“This assembly process over the next year is truly thrilling. Being involved for so long and then seeing it all come together is something I am really looking forward to.”