Airbus Challenges Boeing with Maiden Flight of A350F Freighter

Airbus has successfully flown its A350F freighter for the first time, marking a significant milestone in its efforts to challenge Boeing's dominance in the air cargo market.

The A350F is a windowless version of Airbus' long-haul jet, designed specifically for carrying large amounts of cargo. It flew a lap around Airbus factories in southwest France before landing smoothly after a four-hour flight.

Airbus Commercial CEO Lars Wagner described the flight as 'smooth' and said it was the first in a new generation of freighters. He expressed confidence that Airbus would meet its delivery targets for this year, despite recent issues with smaller A321neo jets.

The demand for air cargo is growing rapidly, driven by factors such as e-commerce and the increasing use of artificial intelligence. According to Crawford Hamilton, head of freighter marketing at Airbus, cargo traffic grew 4.7% in the first half of this year, making it the fastest rate of growth since the 2008 financial crisis.