Airbus targets A350F maiden flight in September, sources say

By Tim Hepher

PARIS, Aug 18 (Reuters) - Airbus has tentatively set the first flight of its delayed A350F freighter for late September as it tries to loosen Boeing's grip on airborne trade, industry sources said on Tuesday.

The schedule, which could slip into early October, leaves the European planemaker with a finely balanced certification timeline as it aims to complete flight testing and achieve the first delivery to customers before the end of next year.

Flight trials usually take 12 to 15 months, industry sources say.

An Airbus spokesperson said it had nothing to add to its most recent predictions of a maiden flight before the end of this year, followed by first delivery in the second half of 2027.  

Industry sources said organisers were aiming for a window centred on a preferred date of September 24, subject to last-minute technical glitches or weather.

Originally launched in 2021 with a goal of entering service four years later, the dedicated freighter version of Airbus's A350 long-haul jet family aims to penetrate a corner of the aircraft market long dominated by Boeing. 

Airbus has sold 107 of the lightweight composite A350F cargo planes, compared with 38 of a smaller and older A330F model.

Reuters reported in May that Airbus was facing delays in cargo doors built by Airbus in Spain for the new freighter.

Aviation publication Leeham News reported this month that A350F deliveries could slip into 2028.    

(Reporting by Tim HepherEditing by Susan Fenton and David Goodman)