A350F cargo door milestone reached in Spain

Airbus has completed the manufacturing and assembly of the first main deck cargo door for the A350F freighter at its facility in Illescas. The component has been delivered to the Final Assembly Line in Toulouse, where it will be integrated into the fuselage of the first test aircraft and prepared for upcoming testing.

The programme includes two A350F aircraft planned for flight testing between 2026 and 2027.

Airbus A350F cargo door design supports freight operations

The main deck cargo door measures approximately 4.5 metres wide by 4.3 metres high. Positioned in the rear fuselage, it is designed to support loading operations while maintaining balance during cargo handling. The structure is built using composite materials and includes an electrically powered opening and closing system.

The Illescas facility plays a key role in producing composite structures, including manufacturing and assembling the cargo door before delivery for integration.

During early production stages, the doors will be installed in Toulouse. Once serial production begins, the components will be transported to Hamburg for integration into the aft fuselage, before final assembly in Toulouse as part of Airbus’ production process.

The A350F is being developed to support long-haul cargo operations, with a planned range of up to 8,700 kilometres and a payload capacity of up to 111 tonnes. The aircraft incorporates a high proportion of advanced materials and is designed to operate with sustainable aviation fuel blends over time.

As of March 2026, the A350F programme has recorded 101 orders from 14 customers.