Airbus now expects the A350F freighter to make its maiden flight before the end of 2026, indicating a delay from its previous target of the third quarter.
Chief Executive Guillaume Faury disclosed the revised schedule during the company's first-half earnings webcast on Wednesday. He said the aircraft remains on course for certification and first delivery "ideally" by the end of 2027.
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The manufacturer had previously pointed to a third-quarter 2026 first flight. Airbus reiterated that two flight-test aircraft are being assembled in Toulouse for what Faury described as a "very dense" certification campaign.
The A350F is designed to carry more than 110 tonnes of payload and has secured 107 firm orders. The aircraft will compete directly with Boeing's 777-8 Freighter, which is also expected to enter service in 2027.
Both programmes were launched largely in response to stricter environmental standards adopted by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO). The new rules prevent newly built versions of current-generation freighters such as the Boeing 777F and 767F from remaining in production beyond 2027 because they do not comply with the latest CO₂ emissions requirements.
That regulatory deadline has created a rare opportunity in the large freighter market, with Airbus seeking its first meaningful share of a segment long dominated by Boeing. The A350F is expected to reach operators slightly ahead of the 777-8 Freighter if both manufacturers meet their current certification targets.
