Airbus is preparing for a nine-month flight test campaign for its A350 freighter, aiming for service by the end of 2027. It has 82 firm orders and expects to see a 45% increase in the global fleet of dedicated freighter aircraft by 2044, with 1,670 conversions from passenger aircraft.

The company has laid out plans for production of two test aircraft for the A350 freighter, which will undergo light flight testing and rigorous ground tests. Airbus is aiming for concurrent certifications from the European Union Aviation Safety Agency and the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration.

Airbus designed the A350F with customer needs in mind, offering features like independent pallet loading systems, a watertight main-deck floor, and improved air circulation for crew comfort. The aircraft can carry up to 111 metric tons with a range of 4,700 nautical miles, powered by Rolls-Royce Trent engines for fuel efficiency and reduced emissions.

The A350F’s development comes at a time of strong growth in the freighter fleet, driven by increased air transport demand during the Covid pandemic. Airbus and Boeing have differing outlooks on future market growth, with Airbus having a more conservative view. The trend of increased e-commerce and shifting supply chains is expected to drive demand for air cargo services.

Read more at Yahoo Finance: Airbus finalizes A350 freighter prototype for test flights, certification