Leeham News and Analysis
There's more to real news than a news release.
Airbus sticks to 2027 EIS for A350F
By Scott Hamilton
Oct. 22, 2025, © Leeham News: Airbus reaffirmed its goal for the A350F to enter service in the second half of 2027, despite some customers telling LNA that EIS may slip to 2028. The new certification environment prompted by the Boeing 737 MAX crisis may mean a longer-than-anticipated review by Europe’s regulator, EASA, customers say.
Crawford Hamilton, head of freighter marketing for Airbus, said that, so far, the 2H2027 EIS remains the target.
Rendering of the Airbus A350F. Assembly of the first two airplanes is underway. First flight is expected next year, and the entry-into-service goal is the 2H2027. Credit: Airbus.
“I’ve spoken to both the chief engineer and the deputy program manager and the program manager about this recently because there are a lot of things in the rumor mill going around about this,” Hamilton said. “The answer is no, the basic structure there for the requirements that we’ve met is all still there. It’s the same as it was, and we are going toward that to meet the requirements from both the EASA and the FAA. So, as I stated, the EIS is in the second half of 2027 and remains so.”
Hamilton, who is no relation to this author, said that Airbus has worked with regulators since 2022 to understand the certification requirements.
He made his remarks at the Cargo Facts conference in Nashville (TN).
Engine reliability and durability
The A350F is based on the passenger A350-1000, the largest model of the family. Five sections have been removed. The freighter is powered by the same Rolls-Royce Trent XWB-97 as the -1000. Some carriers, notably in the Middle East, have complained about the on-wing time of the XWB-97, which has fallen well short of promises.
Middle Eastern airlines operate in a very tough, hot and sandy environment. Cathay Pacific Airways, operating in a highly salt-air environment, also reported shorter on-wing time, though not as short as the Middle Eastern airlines.
Hamilton said the engine’s reliability is excellent. “That’s over 99.9%. There are issues on the durability of the engine and the on-wing time. Rolls-Royce have been working really hard on this. They are at a stage where they can now say they will get that durability up to a level that will be very much along where the market is at the moment for the Middle East.”
Interesting that AB is seemingly proceeding rapidly and smoothly with the EIS of the A350F…despite the “mountain of work” involved in getting a derivative certified 😉
The way things are going over at the competitor, the A350F may well have its EIS before the 777-9…despite it being almost 6 years since the latter had its first flight 🙈
In your own words, a 3 year delay is proceeding smoothly and rapidly….🤔
After all, they did predict a 2025 EIS
at launch ..
If everything went according to plan, we’d be graced with a new breed of freighter flying the friendly skies..
Not so quick Abby..
“At the November 2021 Dubai Air Show, US lessor Air Lease Corporation became the launch customer with an order for seven to be delivered around *2026*, among other Airbus airliners. Air Lease Corporation cancelled its launch order in August 2025. The launch operator of the A350F was initially planned to be Singapore Airlines, which ordered 7 aircraft at the 2022 Singapore Airshow with deliveries expected to begin in *2026*.”
It’s quite possible that the poster mistook another well-known airframer which suffered repeated delays in certification recently. Who knows? 🙄
Worth noting the bias here.
Boeing does not have the 777X certified. So yes their path is longer even under good circumstances and for all the state reasons (no need to re-hash) it is not.
It does not diminish that the A350F looks to be Airbus first successful freighter program (I guess only the 2nd one though the A380F never made it at all)
Nice work by Airbus, even if the A350F EIS slips by a few months. Should be a popular freighter, methinks.
Agreed.
Scott has noted the issue of priority of filling 1000 orders and getting the F out the door.
The only LCA production slower than a wide body is COMAC and that is a single aisle.
“Airbus predicts world freighter fleet to grow 45% by 2044”
“Toulouse, France, 22 October 2025 – Airbus’ 2025 Cargo Global Market Forecast (GMF) shows the worldwide fleet of dedicated freighter aircraft rising to 3,420 in the next 20 years, equivalent to a 45% increase. This will be made up of 815 existing freighters and 2,605 additional ones. Of these additional 2,605 freighters, 1,530 will be replacements and 1,075 will be for growth. The additional 2,605 will be split between 1,120 small aircraft, 855 mid-size widebodies, and 630 large widebodies. Overall of the 2,605 additional freighters, 1,670 will be conversions from passenger aircraft and 935 will be new-build freighters.”
https://www.airbus.com/en/newsroom/press-releases/2025-10-airbus-predicts-world-freighter-fleet-to-grow-45-by-2044
As I recall Airbus estimated they would need 1000 A380 built, not even close.
I am more optimistic on the A350F but who knows what happens to economies in coming years.
FedEx is moving to more flights to Europe, never thought I would see that.
Those predictions are just ‘unchanged’ for financial reporting reasons.
Doesn’t reflect the reality in the certification departments.
I thinks Scott’s sources are right to be sceptics
Sure its a simpler plane change , with same cockpit and flight control systems, same structure and same wings and same engines. Just a ‘novel’ cargo door . But look how long it took for the ‘novel’ fuel tank for the A321XLR.
Oh thats right the B777X has very little that remains from the older 777
I recall you boldly claimed the 777-9 flight testing are ending not that long ago, do you still remember that? 🤔
BA is forecasted to post a reach-forward charge up to $4.5 billion due to recent 777-9 certification delay.
Well I believe 777X flight testing will be ending until they get the FAA moving again!
Hindsight is such an easy thing.
https://aviationweek.com/shownews/farnborough-airshow/rolls-royce-rolls-out-trent-engine-upgrades
I do not have the impression Airbus had problems with EASA because Boeing had 737 issues with the FAA.
The A321XLR centre fuel tank certification issue was solved relatively smoothly.
I think the A350F specification looks very strong; a surprisingly high payload of 110t with an OEW probably 30t lower than 777-8F.
I think I would amend that in all falling tides drop all ships.
The AHJs have a lot to ponder and they are asking each other what if questions.
Yes they resolved the A321 tank issue but it was quite a bit beyond what Airbus thought it would be with objections from EASA and questions from the FAA.
I will go with Scott in a general slow down of the process that affects Airbus as well as Boeing.
Its not just the MAX that is being looked at closely.