Airbus completes wingset for A350F prototype

Airbus has finished construction of the wingset for its prototype A350F, a significant step forward after the type’s entry into service was delayed to 2027 earlier this year.

Airbus completed the two wings last week at its site in Broughton, Wales, and expects to transport them via a BelugaXL to Bremen, Germany, the European planemaker told Cargo Facts.

[caption id="attachment_57289221" align="aligncenter" width="2505"] Unit 700's wings will soon make their way to the final assembly line in Toulouse. (Courtesy/Airbus)[/caption] The prototype A350F’s wings and winglets are the same as those of the passenger A350-1000, Airbus said.

The wings will be transported from Bremen to the final assembly line in Toulouse , France, where they will meet the winglets, sourced from an Austria-based supplier, and be joined to the fuselage of the first test A350F (700), Airbus said.

Airbus is building two A350F test aircraft, which will undergo flight tests throughout 2026 and 2027. The wingset for the second test aircraft is in production in Broughton, the manufacturer said.

A350F delays The A350F’s entry into service slipped to the second half of 2027 from 2026 due to persistent supply chain challenges with Spirit AeroSystems, which produces center fuselage sections, front spars and fixed leading edges for A350s, Airbus Chief Executive Guillaume Faury said during Airbus’ annual results press conference in February.

The A350F delay is at least partly why Air France-KLM canceled orders for two units in March.

[caption id="attachment_57289214" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] Airbus completes construction of the wingset for its first A350F test aircraft. (Courtesy/Airbus)[/caption] The A350F orderbook stood at sixty-three units as of April 30. Airbus has not yet removed the two canceled Air France-KLM units. Taking the cancellations into account, there are sixty-one A350Fs on order:

Ten from Starlux Airlines; Eight from CMA CGM; Seven each from Etihad Airways , Singapore Airlines and Air Lease Corp. ; Six from Cathay Pacific ; Five from Turkish Airlines ; Three each from Air France and Martinair ; Three from an unidentified customer; and Two from Silk Way West Airlines . The A350F will have up to 20% lower fuel burn and carbon emissions compared with in-service freighters, Airbus said. The freighter will have a range up to 8,700 kilometers and a payload capacity up to 111 tonnes.

The large-widebody freighter will have the widest side cargo door of any current modern jet at 170 inches wide. The door will be 124 inches high.

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