Beluga
For outsized cargo transport
Featuring one of the most voluminous cargo holds of any civil or military aircraft flying today, the Airbus Beluga offers a unique way to transport oversized air cargo. Also known as A300-600ST Super Transporter, the company’s five existing Belugas play a key role in keeping its production and assembly network operating at full capacity, with the fleet’s overall pace of operations – managed by the Airbus Transport International (ATI) subsidiary – growing to support production ramp-ups.
In 2020, Airbus began phasing in its fleet of six new-generation BelugaXL versions – which will operate in parallel with the five in-service A300-600STs before replacing them completely.
Aircraft weights and capabilities shown are the highest values. Ranges shown are for typical passenger load.
With more than 20 years of reliable service, the Beluga carries complete sections of Airbus aircraft from different production sites around Europe to the final assembly lines in Toulouse, France and Hamburg, Germany. The five-aircraft fleet of A300-600ST Belugas – operated by the Airbus Transport International (ATI) subsidiary – transports fuselage sections, wings and tails for Airbus’ single-aisle A320 and wide-body A330 families, along with parts for the A350 XWB.
ATI ensures a high level of customer satisfaction with loading, unloading, and delivery designed to be fast, safe, flexible, and reliable – as demonstrated by over two decades of successful operations throughout the world.
To support the A350 XWB ramp-up and other production rate increases, Airbus is replacing its five-aircraft A300-600ST fleet with six BelugaXL aircraft, derived from the company’s versatile A330 wide-body product line.
In addition to the significant use of existing components and equipment, Airbus’ A330-based BelugaXLs incorporate newly-developed elements including its lowered cockpit, a highly-enlarged cargo bay structure, and modified rear and tail section.
Sized at seven metres longer and one metre wider than its BelugaST predecessor, the BelugaXL provides 30% extra transport capacity. As an example, the BelugaXL can carry two wings of an A350 XWB jetliner, while the BelugaST can only accommodate one. With a maximum payload of 51 tonnes, the BelugaXL has a range of 4,000 km (2,200 nm).
The BelugaXL performed its maiden flight in 2018. Type Certification for the Airbus airlifter was issued in November 2019 by the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), which paved the way for the first BelugaXL’s service entry two months later in January 2020.
As with the BelugaST, the BelugaXL fleet will operate from 11 destinations in Europe, continuing to strengthen Airbus’ industrial capabilities and enabling the company to meet its production and delivery commitments.
Beluga combines outsized cargo-carrying capability with the speed and efficiency of Airbus’s A300-600 airliner. It enables short transport times for production, and the large main cargo deck minimizes the need for payload breakdown, crating and packaging.
The semi-automated main deck cargo loading system ensures easy and efficient handling of payloads, controlled by the trained crews of Airbus Transport International – which operates the five-aircraft Beluga fleet.
The Beluga retains the same modern flight deck that is in worldwide operation on Airbus A300-600s and A310s.
It is operated by a three-member crew comprising two pilots and a loadmaster. The main instrument panel incorporates six cathode ray tube (CRT) displays that continuously provide flight, navigation and systems-monitoring information in a clear, comprehensive manner.
Also included in the cockpit are controls for a transportable heating module that can be installed in the main deck cargo compartment. The module provides temperature-controlled conditions for sensitive payloads carried by the Beluga, including satellites and paintings.
Airbus Beluga - Patrouille de France 4
The Beluga transporter aircraft, which flew in formation with the French Air Force “Patrouille de France” aerobatic demonstration team on 30 May 2014, plays a vital role in ensuring the ramp-up of several Airbus programmes
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Airbus Beglua loading hangar
Six new loading hangars dedicated to Airbus' Beluga cargo carriers – the first of which opened May 2014 in Hamburg, Germany – will help these freighters increase their flight hour totals to support the company's latest production rate increases
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Beluga media gallery
Celebrating the BelugaXL airlifter’s Type Certification in November 2019 are, from left to right: Florentino Bascunana, BelugaXL Project Certification Manager at EASA; Sébastien Freissinet, Airbus BelugaXL Type Certification Manager; Veronique Roca, Airbus BelugaXL Technical Director and Chief Engineer; Bertrand George, Airbus Sr. VP & Head of BelugaXL Programme; Jean-Brice Dumont, Airbus Executive VP - Engineering; Carla Iorio, EASA, Head of CT1.4 Special Aeroplanes & Projects
Airbus 50th Years Anniversary - Formation Flight - May 2019 Fans in front of BelugaXL with Patrouille de France (PAF) flying over BelugaXL Celebrating 50 years since Airbus’ creation, representatives from each of the company’s in-production commercial jetliner families – A220, A320, A330, A350 XWB and A380 – are joined in a May 2019 formation flight by France’s Patrouille de France aerobatic demonstration team
Airbus commercial aircraft family in formation with Patrouille de France Celebrating 50 years since Airbus’ creation, representatives from each of the company’s in-production commercial jetliner families – A220, A320, A330, A350 XWB and A380 – are joined in a May 2019 formation flight by France’s Patrouille de France aerobatic demonstration team
Airbus’ product line-up of commercial aircraft – which includes the A220, A320, A330, A350 XWB and A380 – provides airline customers and other operators around the globe with tailored solutions to meet the needs of any market; representatives from each family took part in a special formation flight celebrating the company’s 50th anniversary in May 2019
Airbus Commercial Aircraft family flight – 50-year anniversary Airbus’ product line of commercial aircraft – including the A220-300, A319neo, A330-900, A350-1000 and A380, shown in formation with the next-generation BelugaXL airlifter – provides airline customers and other operators around the globe tailored solutions to meet their operational needs Taxiing before family flight
