Airbus Takes Flight with A350F Freighters in Bid to Oust Boeing

Airbus has launched the maiden flight of its delayed A350F freighter, marking a significant expansion into the air cargo market. The windowless version of Europe's A350 long-haul jet took off from Airbus' headquarters in Toulouse, France on Tuesday, embarking on a four-hour flight that will last nine months before entering service in 2027.

The A350F aims to challenge Boeing's dominance in the freighter market, with about a third of global trade by value traveling by air. The European planemaker hopes to tap into growing demand for air cargo, driven by e-commerce and increased need for pharmaceuticals and electronics transportation.

Crawford Hamilton, head of freighter marketing at Airbus, noted that cargo traffic grew 4.7% in the first half of this year, despite lower volumes in the Middle East. This growth rate is the fastest since the 2008 financial crisis, according to Hamilton.