Overview
- Airbus delivered the first A350F main-deck cargo door to Toulouse on Thursday for installation on the first test aircraft.
- The composite door uses electric actuators and opens to 4.5 meters by 4.3 meters, which Airbus says is the largest in the industry.
- The door sits in the rear fuselage to keep the aircraft’s center of gravity stable during loading, which speeds turnarounds and helps safety on the ramp.
- In pre-series jets the door is installed in Toulouse, with serial production shifting door and actuation integration to Hamburg before final assembly in France.
- Airbus says the Rolls-Royce Trent XWB-97-powered freighter will cut fuel burn and CO₂ by up to 20% and will be capable of up to 50% sustainable aviation fuel at entry, with a roadmap to 100% by 2030.