Airbus has reached a significant milestone in its A350F freighter programme. On 23 April 2026, the company announced the successful manufacturing and assembly of the first main deck cargo door at its facility in Illescas, Spain.
The large composite component has now been delivered to the Final Assembly Line (FAL) in Toulouse, France, where it will be integrated into the fuselage of the first test aircraft.
This achievement marks an important step toward the start of flight testing for the A350F, scheduled between 2026 and 2027. Airbus is currently building two aircraft dedicated to the flight test campaign.
World’s Largest Cargo Door
The A350F main deck cargo door stands out as the largest in the industry. It features a 4.5-metre wide cut-out and a 4.3-metre tall opening. Engineers designed it to simplify loading and unloading, making operations faster and safer for ground crews.
Positioned in the rear fuselage, the door helps maintain an optimal centre of gravity during loading. It is constructed from advanced composite materials and includes an electrical open/close actuation system for smooth, reliable performance.
The Illescas plant specialises in producing large-scale, complex composite surfaces. Teams there manufacture the door skins and complete final assembly before shipping the component to Toulouse. In the pre-series phase, doors go directly to Toulouse.
Once full serial production begins, doors will travel from Illescas to Hamburg for aft fuselage integration and actuation system installation, then continue to the Toulouse FAL following Airbus’s standard production flow.
Spain’s Key Role in the A350F Programme
Ricardo Rojas, President of Airbus Commercial Aircraft in Spain, highlighted the importance of this milestone. “This demonstrates Spain’s key role in the production of our commercial aircraft, including the A350F programme,” he said.
“Delivering the first main deck cargo door is the result of years of preparation and extensive teamwork. It showcases the deep expertise and technical maturity that the Illescas plant has refined over decades in composite materials.”
Advanced Freighter with Strong Environmental Credentials
Designed as the world’s most advanced cargo aircraft, the Airbus A350F addresses growing demands in the global air freight market. It offers a range of up to 8,700 kilometres while carrying a payload of up to 111 tonnes. This capability suits long-haul international routes perfectly.
The aircraft uses more than 70% advanced materials, making it 46 tonnes lighter than competing freighters. Powered by the latest Rolls-Royce Trent XWB-97 engines, the A350F delivers up to 20% lower fuel consumption and carbon emissions compared to previous-generation aircraft with similar payload and range.
It is the only freighter that fully meets ICAO’s 2027 CO₂ emission standards. From entry into service, the A350F can operate with up to 50% Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF). Airbus aims for 100% SAF capability by 2030, in line with its broader fleet goals.
Strong Market Interest
Customer confidence in the A350F remains high. By the end of March 2026, the programme had secured 101 firm orders from 14 customers worldwide.
This latest milestone in Spain underlines Airbus’s commitment to innovation, efficiency, and sustainability in cargo aviation. With the first main deck cargo door now in Toulouse, the A350F programme continues to progress steadily toward certification and entry into service.
Read our comparison of the Airbus A350F and Boeing’s 777-8F here.
