Airbus receives first fuselage sections for A350 freighter in Toulouse

Airbus has reached a new milestone in the A350F program as the first fuselage sections for the aircraft’s prototype, MSN700, arrived at the final assembly line in Toulouse.

The forward sections 11-14 and central sections 15-21 were built at the Airbus Atlantic facility in Montoir-de-Bretagne, formerly known as Saint-Nazaire. This site is responsible for assembling and equipping all forward and center fuselages for the A350 family.

Airbus Atlantic described the delivery as a “major milestone” that underscores both the industrial excellence and strong collaboration across its different facilities.

The A350F, capable of carrying just over 110 tons of cargo, is scheduled to enter service in 2027.

French logistics group CMA CGM will be the launch customer, having signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Airbus in November 2021 for four aircraft. The company currently operates a fleet of six freighters, five of them Boeing 777Fs.

The arrival of the first fuselage sections marks the beginning of final assembly of the new-generation freighter, which Airbus hopes will become a strong competitor in the long-haul cargo market.

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