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 Beluga airlifters play a key role in keeping its production and assembly network operating at full capacity – with the fleet’s overall pace of operations growing to support production ramp-ups. Airbus’ oversize air transport capabilities will be further reinforced by a new generation of A330 Family-based Beluga aircraft, the BelugaXL, which was launched in November 2014. 

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 widebody 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 will gradually replace its five-aircraft A300-600ST fleet with a similar number of BelugaXL aircraft, derived from the company’s versatile A330 widebody product line. 

In addition to the significant use of existing components and equipment, Airbus’ new A330-based BelugaXLs will incorporate newly-developed elements including its lowered cockpit, a highly-enlarged cargo bay structure, and modified rear and tail section. 

The no. 1 BelugaXL performed its maiden flight in July 2018, with the first of these aircraft planned to enter service in mid-2019 – initially operating in parallel with the existing A300-600ST fleet, which is to be progressively retired through 2025.

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.