Airbus targets A350F maiden flight in September, sources say

By Tim Hepher

PARIS, ‌Aug 18 (Reuters) - ​Airbus ​has tentatively set the first flight of its delayed A350F freighter for the third week ‌of September as it tries to loosen ⁠Boeing's grip on airborne trade, industry sources said on Tuesday.

The schedule, ‌which could slip into ‌early October, leaves the European planemaker with a finely balanced certification timeline as it aims to ​complete flight testing and achieve the first delivery to customers before the end of next year.

Flight ⁠trials usually take 12 to 15 months, industry sources say.

An Airbus spokesperson ​said it had nothing to add to its most recent predictions of a maiden flight ​before the end of this ‌year, followed by first delivery in the second half of 2027.

Originally launched in 2021 ⁠with a goal of entering service four years later, the dedicated freighter version of Airbus's A350 long-haul jet ⁠family aims to penetrate a corner of the aircraft market long ​dominated by Boeing.

Airbus has sold 107 of the lightweight composite A350F cargo planes, compared with 38 of a smaller and ‌older A330F model.

Reuters reported in May that Airbus was facing delays in cargo doors ‌built by Airbus in Spain for the new ⁠freighter.

Aviation publication Leeham News ‌reported this month ​that A350F deliveries could slip into 2028.

(Reporting by Tim HepherEditing by Susan Fenton and David ‌Goodman)

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