Airbus A350

Geopolitical upheaval and policy changes are diverting flows but not damping air cargo.

KLM receives first Airbus A350 as part of €7 billion fleet renewal amid sustainability debates.

Editors discuss the next-generation freighter market after first flight of the Airbus A350F and with Boeing's 777-8F in line to take off soon.

The Airbus A350F has started its flight-test campaign, and the Boeing 777-8F will soon follow. The two aircraft may benefit from substantial pent-up demand.

Airbus recently completed the first flight of the A350F, its new dedicated freighter. Flight Friday looks at how the A350 is doing in commercial service.

JAL’s inbound demand remains strong outside mainland China; outbound improves, though below prepandemic levels.

Airbus kicked off the flight test program for the A350F with a 4 hr., 11 min. first flight on Sept. 29.

Finnair reports resilient passenger demand and rising yields despite volatile fuel prices, uncertainty and limited hedging opportunities.

Iberia Maintenance begins Airbus A350 base maintenance, marking a milestone with AESA approval and plans for five to six checks this year.

Qantas Airways plans to launch its second Project Sunrise route from Sydney to New York in 2028, cutting travel time by three hours with Airbus A350-1000 ULRs.

Finnair is expecting to receive the last of the 19 A350s it has on order in November as it gears up for a busy winter season.

Vietnam Airlines has signed an agreement with Airbus for a further five A350-900s, which form part of the flag carrier’s post-2030 fleet strategy.

Airlines and lessors placed large orders at Farnborough Airshow 2026 despite significant production backlogs.

Qantas has advanced the replacement of its Airbus A380s by 3 to 4 years and confirmed it is negotiating with Airbus and Boeing to exercise more widebody options.

Korean Air is adding more MRO capabilities and eyeing third-party services as it finalizes its merger with Asiana Airlines

New Caledonia-based airline Aircalin is betting on partnerships with French carriers as part of a strategy aimed at helping support the expansion and strengthening of its fleet.

Airbus and Qantas complete a 24-hr. test flight for Project Sunrise, simulating nonstop Sydney-London service with the A350-1000ULR.

Rolls-Royce plans to test-fly an improved version of the Trent XWB-97 engine in 2027 ahead of certification anticipated for later in the year.

Flight tests are to validate performance characteristics of the open fan engine and long, thin wing.

Airbus targets doubling commercial operating profit by 2029 through production growth, services expansion and efficiency improvements.

Philippine Airlines has followed up its indicative order for Boeing 787-10s with an expanded commitment for the Airbus A350-1000.

Riyadh Air has exercised options for 28 Boeing 787-9s while converting some to the family’s larger variant and firmed a commitment for six additional Airbus A350-1000s.

Chinese carriers have again turned to Airbus for fleet expansion, with the Air China and Hainan Airlines airline groups announcing orders for a combined 95 narrowbody and widebody aircraft.

As the world of aviation turns its gaze to the 2026 Farnborough International Airshow, Flight Friday highlights the utilization of the largest airline groups of Western Europe.

Widebody sales have been rebounding since the pandemic.