Airbus is pushing back the entry-into-service date of its A350 freighter to the second half of 2027, from its earlier expectation of 2026.
The airframer stated that it is facing “specific supply-chain challenges, notably with Spirit AeroSystems”, which are “putting pressure” on ramp-up of A350 production.
Speaking during a full-year financial briefing on 20 February, chief executive Guillaume Faury said the first flight-test A350 freighter would enter the final assembly line this year.
Airbus has firm orders for 63 A350 freighters, with 60 of them attributed to 10 identified customers.
Spirit AeroSystems is a supplier of aerostructures to Airbus including the central fuselage section of the A350.
It is currently undergoing a restructuring following the decision by Boeing to acquire the company, a process which will involve separating its Airbus operations.
While the A350 freighter development timeline has shifted, Airbus is maintaining a ramp-up target for the A350 to 12 aircraft per month in 2028.
Orders for the new freighter have continued to roll in over the last year.
Most recently, in January, Airbus received an order for three of the freighters from an undisclosed customer, while Starlux Airlines took up options on five additional units - it had already ordered five previously.
In December 2023, Airbus secured an order from Turkish Airlines for five A350Fs.
In the same month, Cathay Cargo placed an order for six of the aircraft, with the right to order 20 more.
Air France-KLM Group also ordered four A350Fs in January 2023 for operation by Martinair on behalf of KLM Cargo.
This followed a December 2021 order for four A350Fs to be operated by Air France, with the order confirmed in April 2022.
In February 2022, Singapore Airlines firmed up an order for seven A350Fs, Silk Way West Airlines ordered two of the model in June that year, while Etihad Cargo firmed up an order for seven two months afterwards.
The Middle East airline has also confirmed it expects to increase its order to 10 of the model, although the deal has yet to be firmed up.
Then back in November 2021, US lessor Air Lease ordered seven A350Fs and shipping firm CMA CGM ordered four for CMA CGM Air Cargo, but the order was doubled in April 2024.
Additional reporting by Damian Brett
