Airbus A350F Rolls Out in Parcel Livery; September 24 First Flight Targets 2027 Delivery

Airbus rolled out its first A350F flight-test aircraft in Toulouse on August 19, painted in a “parcel” livery with postal-style labels and instructions meant to symbolize a freighter as an oversized shipping package. The visual rollout comes ahead of a targeted September maiden flight that would start certification steps and influence whether the next-generation cargo aircraft stays on schedule for deliveries. Reuters, citing industry sources, reported Airbus is targeting about September 24 for the first flight, though Airbus says the maiden is expected “later in 2026,” with potential delays tied to technical issues or adverse weather. The livery was selected from a 2022 global design competition with 4,000 entries.