Final assembly of A350F to begin mid-2024

Airbus has begun building the framework for its first A350F as the manufacturer moves toward its target of starting final assembly of the prototype by mid-2024. The Airbus Atlantic facility in Nantes, France, has cut metal on the first center wing box components for the production freighter. [caption id="attachment_56862762" align="alignright" width="450"] Production for the first A350F is now underway. (Photo/Airbus)[/caption] The center wing box package is made of two sub-components, Airbus told Cargo Facts. “The wing box is predominantly made of composite material, similar to the latest A350-1000 passenger aircraft,” Airbus said. “The metallic structures supporting the main deck and frames connected to the composite side shells have been reinforced to support the very high main-deck running loads required for freighter operations.” Forming the first freighter Airbus told Cargo Facts that it expects to complete the subassembly of the center wing box by the first quarter of 2024 and begin assembling the A350F fuselage sections from the fourth quarter of 2023 through the second quarter of 2024. The manufacturer will transport the center wing box subassembly to a factory in Montoir-de-Bretagne — where the center and forward fuselage assembly takes place — and marry it with the first A350F’s center fuselage to form the major component assemblies. An Airbus Beluga will fly the assemblies to the A350 Final Assembly Line in Toulouse, France, where final assembly will begin, Airbus told Cargo Facts . Fifteen of the thirty-eight working stations at the Nantes factory are capable of working on the A350F’s center wing box, allowing for production to be intermixed with the passenger versions of the jet, according to an Airbus statement. Airbus told Cargo Facts in December 2022 that it had implemented a design change before the manufacturing phase to give the A350F the largest cargo door of any widebody freighter. Air France-KLM recently placed an order for four A350Fs that will replace four 747-400Fs operated by Martinair, bringing the total Airbus order book for the production freighter to thirty-five aircraft. In addition to Air France-KLM, Air Lease Corporation , CMA CGM , Singapore Airlines , Etihad Airways and Silk Way West Airlines have also placed orders for the A350F. Don’t miss our two upcoming events that are essential for stakeholders in Asia and Latin America: Cargo Facts Asia , taking place April 17-19 in Singapore, and Cargo Facts LATAM , taking place May 15-17 in Panama City. Register today.

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