UPDATE 2-Airbus to fly new freighter, switch first operator

* Maiden flight for Airbus A330-200 freighter version

* To compete with Boeing 777 freighter, new 747

* New models crowd into depressed air cargo market

* Etihad seen replacing Indian firm as first operator (Recasts with new first operator, analyst quote)

By Tim Hepher

PARIS, Nov 4 (Reuters) - European planemaker Airbus is preparing the maiden test flight of a new freighter plane, but looked set to announce a switch of the first operator amid turmoil in the global cargo market.

The EADS (EAD.PA) unit said on Wednesday it would fly the first cargo version of its mid-sized A330-200 passenger plane at its Toulouse headquarters on Thursday, barring poor weather.

Air freight accounts for almost half of world trade by value, according to airline industry figures.

Airbus launched development of the plane at the height of aircraft demand and a booming global economy in 2007, aiming to challenge Boeing's (BA.N) recent dominance of airborne trade.