The first-produced BelugaXL – shown in flight, with the no. 2 aircraft in the foreground – performed its maiden take off in July 2018

Two of the six BelugaXL airlifters that will make up Airbus’ next-generation fleet are undergoing testing ahead of the 2019 service entry

Airbus first two BelugaXL airlifters – shown together in Toulouse, France – form the basis of a next-generation fleet that will grow to six overall

The first two BelugaXLs – highly-modified A330 jetliners tailored to carry large airframe components within the Airbus aircraft production network – meet up in Toulouse, France

The blue-and-white livery for Airbus’ second BelugaXL cargo airlifter was applied during activity at the company’s Toulouse, France paint shop

The second BelugaXL cargo airlifter rolled out from Airbus’ Toulouse, France paint shop bearing its blue-and-white livery

The second BelugaXL showed off its newly-applied livery after rolling out from the Airbus paint shop in Toulouse, France

Airbus marked an important achievement with the first flight of its next-generation BelugaXL carrying a set of A350 XWB wings, which was performed in February 2019

Airbus’ BelugaXL transported two A350 XWB wings from Bremen, Germany to Toulouse, France on its milestone flight, performed in February 2019

The BelugaXL’s first flight carrying a set of A350 XWB wings, performed in February 2019, highlighted the growing responsibilities for Beluga loadmasters

The first BelugaXL flight carrying a set of aircraft wings concluded at Airbus’ Toulouse, France headquarters

The BelugaXL’s first flight carrying a set of A350 XWB wings originated at Airbus’ industrial facility in Bremen, Germany

Airbus’ BelugaXL marked an important achievement in February 2019 with its first flight carrying a set of A350 XWB wings

The BelugaXL flew to Airbus’ industrial facility in Bremen, German to undergo a number of tests before the airlifter begins operations at the end of 2019; on its way, the aircraft performed a fly-past of the Airbus site in Hamburg, Germany and overflew Airbus’ plant in the German city of Stade.

The new-generation BelugaXL airlifter landed at Bremen, Germany – one of the Airbus assembly network facilities it will serve after entering service

The no.1 BelugaXL taxis in at Airbus’ Bremen, Germany facility on 14 November 2018 during its first arrival at the industrial site

At 63 metres in length, the “smiling” BelugaXL is about seven metres longer than the previous-generation airlifters of its kind currently in service with Airbus – the Beluga ST

Airbus’ no. 1 BelugaXL airlifter lands at the company’s Bremen, Germany industrial facility, where it will perform loading and unloading tests as part of the airlifter’s validation and certification process

On its way to Bremen, Germany for its first visit, the no.1 BelugaXL performed a fly-past of Airbus’ facility in Hamburg – which will be an integral part of its airlift rotations once in service; the aircraft also overflew the Airbus plant in Stade

While at Airbus’ Bremen, Germany facility, the BelugaXL will perform loading and unloading tests as part of its validation and certification procedure