周二上午，空客SE公司首次试飞了其新款A350货运机，这是这家欧洲飞机制造商在争夺日益增长的货运市场中的重要里程碑。
By Leen Al-Rashdan Airbus SE flew its new A350 freighter for the first time on Tuesday morning, an important milestone in the European planemaker’s quest to gain a bigger slice of the growing cargo business long dominated by Boeing Co.
该货运机被涂成类似纸板的米色，以模仿包裹的外观，从位于法国南部的图卢兹工厂起飞。
Painted in a cardboard beige to resemble a package, the aircraft took off from Airbus’s Toulouse facility in southern France, where the company is based.
原计划A350货运机将于2025年投入运营，但由于供应链问题多次推迟，现在预计将在明年下半年开始为客户提供服务。
The A350 freighter was originally supposed to enter operations in 2025, but supply chain constraints caused repeated delays. The aircraft is now due to start commercial service with customers in the second half of next year.
这款货运机基于空客最大型客机A350-1000的平台打造，专为货运设计，而非从客机改造而来。
The freighter is built using the platform of Airbus’ biggest aircraft in production, the A350-1000.
它将与波音的777和747竞争，后者目前占据全球货运市场的主导地位。
It’s specifically built as a freighter rather than many cargo-carrying models that have been converted from passenger aircraft.
空客已收到超过100架该型飞机的订单，其中包括来自全球最大航空货运运营商之一Atlas Air的20架订单（Atlas Air此前一直是波音的忠实客户）。
The plane is set to compete with Boeing’s 777 and 747, which account for the bulk global cargo operations. Airbus has received more than 100 orders for the aircraft, including 20 from Atlas Air, one of the biggest air freight operators in the world and previously a loyal Boeing customer.
近期地缘政治局势导致对空运货物的需求增加，尤其是在霍尔木兹海峡和红海等风险水域，这些地区的船舶运输经常遭遇延误或损坏。
Recent geopolitical woes have created an uptick in demand for transporting cargo by air to avoid risky waters like the strait of Hormuz and the Red Sea, where ships have been delayed or damaged.