Airbus Completes First A350F Main Deck Cargo Door in Spain

Airbus has achieved a major production milestone in the A350F program with the completion of the first main deck cargo door at its Illescas composite manufacturing facility in Spain. The fully assembled component has now been transported to the Final Assembly Line (FAL) in Toulouse, where it will be integrated into the fuselage of the first A350F test aircraft and undergo structural and functional testing in the coming weeks.

The A350F’s main deck cargo door is the largest in the industry, featuring a 4.5m cut‑out width and a 4.3m tall opening designed to streamline loading and unloading operations. Positioned on the rear fuselage to maintain optimal centre‑of‑gravity during cargo handling, the door is built from advanced composite materials and uses an electrically actuated open/close system.

Illescas, one of Airbus’ leading centres for large‑scale composite structures, manufactures the door skins and completes full assembly before shipment. For the pre‑series aircraft, the first units will be installed directly in Toulouse. Once serial production begins, cargo doors will be delivered from Illescas to Hamburg for integration into the aft fuselage section before final transport to Toulouse.

Ricardo Rojas, President of Airbus Commercial Aircraft in Spain, highlighted the milestone as a demonstration of Spain’s key role in the A350F programme and the technical maturity of the Illescas plant.

The A350F is being developed as Airbus’ next‑generation long‑haul freighter, offering a payload of up to 111 tonnes and a range of up to 8,700 kilometres. Built with more than 70% advanced materials and powered by Rolls‑Royce Trent XWB‑97 engines, the aircraft is expected to deliver up to 20% lower fuel burn and emissions compared to previous‑generation freighters. It is also the only freighter fully compliant with ICAO’s 2027 CO₂ standards and will be capable of operating with up to 50% Sustainable Aviation Fuel at entry‑into‑service.

As of March 2026, the A350F has secured 101 orders from 14 customers, underscoring strong market demand for next‑generation, fuel‑efficient cargo aircraft. Airbus is currently producing two A350F aircraft for flight testing scheduled between 2026 and 2027.