Airbus rolls out its first ever A350F freighter plane and the paint job couldn't be more appropriate for the jet's purpose
Published on Sep 06, 2026 at 4:18 AM (UTC+4)
by Ben Thompson
Last updated on Sep 06, 2026 at 4:18 AM (UTC+4)
Edited by
Mason Jones
Airbus has rolled out the first A350F freighter plane, featuring an extremely appropriate paint job.
At the paint shop in Toulouse, France, Airbus brought the freighter plane out for its big debut.
This livery was the winning design of a public competition, in which 4,000 designs were submitted for consideration.
And we have to say, the winning choice was very apt.
Liveries can say a lot about the planes upon which they sit
Most planes flying in the skies today will have fairly standard liveries upon them.
So when the design deviates from the ‘norm’, we all tend to sit up and take notice.
Over the years, there have been some truly eye-catching designs.
Japan’s largest airline truly broke the mold with this fleet of Pokémon Boeing 747 jets, in which the anime designs stretched beyond the exteriors.
For a touch of cool, you can take a look at Qatar Airways Boeing 777’s F1 livery.
And if you want to give yourself a fright, feast your eyes on the monstrous shark face that appears on this Embraer E190-E2.
Much like cars, there are plenty of creative avenues which planes can go down when it comes to outer appearance.
And representing that perfectly is the Airbus A350F.
The Airbus A350F has a very interesting design
Emerging from its paint shop in Toulouse, the Airbus A350F features a paint job that is quite unlike what we’ve seen before.
No sleek silver designs for this plane.
Instead it’s brown, intended to resemble a delivery box that you might find in the mail room of an apartment building.
Shipping labels are ‘plastered’ on the side, alongside the words ‘Open her for business’.
This livery came courtesy of the public, from whom 4,000 entries were submitted in a design competition.
For the final design, two entries were merged.
One came from John Feehan, a graphic designer from Dublin, and the other came from brothers Quinnten and Ellisten Iversen from Calgary, Canada.
When can we expect to see this plane take flight?
It’s been reported that a first flight is expected to take place around late September, although this could trickle over into October depending on weather or technical checks.
Two A350Fs have been built for the test program.
Entry into service is expected to occur by the end of 2027.
Timeline of the Airbus A350F
July 2021: Airbus formally approves the launch of a dedicated freighter version of the A350, aiming for entry into service in 2025.
November 2021: First commercial orders received from Air Lease Corporation, with CMA CGM Group following soon after.
April 2023: Manufacturing begins.
May 2025: The wings are completed.
August 2025: Main fuselage sections arrive at the Final Assembly Line in Toulouse.
April 2026: The composite main-deck cargo door is completed in Spain and sent to France for integration.
September 2026: Targeted maiden flight to kick off a 15-month certification campaign.
Late 2027: Targeted entry into service.
2028: Expected start of deliveries at commercial volume, with launch operators putting it into revenue service.
Ben joined Supercar Blondie in February 2025 after being published by international organizations including LADbible, The Sun, the New York Post, and the Daily Mail. He covers supercars, rare and collectible vehicles, aviation, luxury assets, and the fascinating people behind them. His reporting has explored everything from seven-figure supercars and historic Ferrari collections to unusual aircraft adventures and extraordinary automotive discoveries from around the world. Ben has also gained first-hand insight into vehicle craftsmanship and customization, including visiting specialist workshops to see bespoke vehicles up close.
