Airbus Just Built The Largest Cargo Door In Aviation History For Its New A350F

Airbus Just Built The Largest Cargo Door In Aviation History For Its New A350F

By Abid Habib

European manufacturer Airbus has announced that it has successfully completed the manufacturing and assembly of the main deck cargo door, which will be the largest in the industry. Designed to be featured in the manufacturer’s upcoming freighter variant of the Airbus A350, the completion of this door marks a milestone in the aircraft’s design process.

The door, after being integrated onto the fuselage of the test aircraft, will begin to undergo ground testing in the coming week. Meanwhile, flight testing of the aircraft is set to begin later this year and run into 2027.

The Largest Main Cargo Door In The Industry

Designed for the manufacturer’s upcoming Airbus A350F, this aircraft is being designed to make Airbus’ mark on the otherwise Boeing-dominant market when it comes to widebody freight jets. Airbus says that the door was designed in its facility in Illescas, Spain, before being transported to the aircraft’s final assembly line in Toulouse-Blagnac Airport (TLS), where the component will be incorporated onto the aircraft fuselage.

This door is set to have dimensions measuring a width of 14.76 feet (4.5 m) and a height of 14.1 feet (4.3 m), giving a total area of 208.1 square feet (19.35 m²) for cargo products to be loaded and unloaded. For context, the table below details how the door size of the A350F compares with that of existing Boeing widebody freight aircraft (based on dimension data published by ANA Cargo).

Figures published by Atlas Air indicate that the A350F main deck cargo doors are also larger than the main cargo doors of the Boeing 747-400F/8F, and even larger than the loading bay located on the nose of the aircraft. The additional space would make it much easier for operators to load and unload cargo from the aircraft because the larger doors would enable the ground handlers to accommodate larger pieces of cargo, rather than having to split them into multiple smaller pieces.

This subsequently also makes the loading and unloading process quicker, which allows for safer and faster aircraft turnaround on the ground. Simple Flying has reached out to Airbus for further comments.

Airbus Has Already Received Over 100 Orders For The A350F

Since the A350F is being built based on the extremely popular A350 platform, the certification process for Airbus would be easier than creating a brand-new, clean-sheet freight aircraft, while customers who already operate the passenger variants of the A350 will have an easier time integrating the freight jets into their fleet. As such, figures published as of the end of March indicate that Airbus has received orders for 101 A350F aircraft from 14 customers around the world.

Data shows that cargo giant, Atlas Air, is currently set to be the largest customer for the aircraft variant, with the operator having ordered 20 examples of the type. Following Atlas Air, there are three companies that have ordered ten aircraft each. These include airlines such as Starlux and Etihad Airways, along with an aircraft leasing company, AviLease.

Apart from being related to the A350 platform, the aircraft is also popular because of the operational capabilities Airbus is aiming to deliver. The marketed specifications include an operational range of 4,700 NM (8,700 km) with a payload of up to 111 tons (222,000 lbs). Additionally, since over 70% of the aircraft is designed using advanced materials, the aircraft is considerably lighter, and the engine option of the Rolls-Royce Trent XWB-97 engine provides fuel efficiency, thereby improving the aircraft’s operational economics.

How Far Along Is The A350F?

With Airbus aiming for the aircraft’s entry into service for the second half of 2027, the aircraft is expected to begin flight testing soon. So, how far along has the aircraft reached? Throughout 2025, Airbus has been methodically ticking off its checklist, having manufactured various components and delivering them to the final assembly line in Toulouse.

This includes components such as the first wings for the A350, the first set of horizontal stabilizers, and the various fuselage sections for the first aircraft being built. Ultimately, Airbus has been receiving various components and fitting them together at its assembly line.

The manufacturer is building two A350F aircraft for flight testing and certification purposes throughout 2026 and 2027. Assuming no further delays, Airbus is hoping to deliver the first commercial A350F aircraft to the launch customer. According to Air Cargo News, this was previously Air Lease Corporation, but is now set to be the aircraft lessor, CMA CGM Air Cargo.