The first Airbus A350F completed its maiden flight on Tuesday, September 29, 2026, departing from Toulouse-Blagnac Airport in Blagnac, Haute-Garonne, Occitanie region. This cargo prototype flew for 4 hours and 10 minutes for an initial series of checks. For local residents, the event marks the beginning of testing for a new aircraft designed and developed in part within the Toulouse aeronautical ecosystem; it is not yet a commercially operational aircraft.
A first test flight over the region
Registered F-WXLD and identified by Airbus as MSN 700, the aircraft reached 25,000 feet, or approximately 7,620 meters. The test crew verified its flight behavior and the operation of essential systems. Instrumented to monitor numerous parameters, the aircraft serves as a flying laboratory: this first flight launches a test campaign designed to prepare for its certification. Airbus announces that it will last more than nine months. ( airbus.com )
A cargo plane announced for 111 tonnes of freight
The A350F is the cargo version of the A350 family. According to specifications published by Airbus, it can carry up to 111 tonnes of cargo and travel up to 8,700 kilometers. These figures represent the manufacturer’s stated capabilities; they do not mean that every flight will be able to combine the maximum payload and maximum range.
Airbus states that the aircraft is made of more than 70% advanced materials, including composites, and that it is equipped with Rolls-Royce Trent XWB-97 engines. The manufacturer claims up to a 40% reduction in fuel consumption and CO₂ emissions compared to competing aircraft with similar capacity and range. These are targets announced by Airbus, and not results established through commercial operation of the aircraft, which has not yet begun. ( airbus.com )
What this changes locally — and what remains to be confirmed
In the short term, the stakes for Toulouse and Blagnac are industrial: the Airbus teams are continuing the development and testing of the program. The inaugural flight alone does not allow for any immediate impact on local employment, scheduled air traffic, or freight activity at the airport.
Airbus specifies that a second prototype, MSN 701, is in advanced stages of final assembly. It is slated to participate in the subsequent testing phase. European certification and initial deliveries will depend on the results of this campaign; the manufacturer does not confirm the date in its press release regarding the maiden flight. As of the end of August 2026, Airbus reported 115 orders from 14 customers, a figure provided by the company. ( airbus.com )
Source: 20Minutes – Actu Toulouse
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