The first components for the new Airbus A350F have arrived at the Hamburg-Finkenwerder site. These parts belong to Section 19 of the aircraft, which connects the rear section of the fuselage to the tail. The components were previously manufactured in Getafe, Spain, and then transported to Hamburg on an Airbus Beluga. There, the aircraft's tail will be pre-assembled before final assembly of the wide-body jet continues in Toulouse.
With the arrival of the first parts, assembly of the Airbus A350F, a special freighter version of the A350, has now begun. Despite this progress, Airbus has postponed delivery of the first aircraft. The launch of the A350F is now expected for the second half of 2027, about a year later than originally planned. This delay is due to problems with the delivery of components. In addition, the Airbus A350F still requires additional testing and certification by the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) and the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). For the A350F, a Type Certificate Amendment is sufficient to distinguish the new variant of the A350 from the previous one.
Air France-KLM recently adjusted its order for the A350F and now plans to take delivery of only six freighters instead of the originally ordered eight. Airbus currently has 66 firm orders for the A350F. These figures demonstrate the continued interest in the new freighter model, despite production challenges and schedule adjustments.