The iconic Airbus Beluga Super Transporter

An iconic aircraft for oversized cargo

Instantly recognisable by its remarkable whale-like shape, the Airbus Beluga is one of the world's most unique cargo aircraft. This Super Transporter, known globally as the Beluga plane, plays a vital role in keeping Airbus production running. Able to carry extremely outsize cargo like entire aircraft sections, the Beluga provides the logistics backbone between our production sites across Europe. With a range of 1,650-4,000 km, their enormous size enables the transport of aircraft components, ensuring the Airbus commercial aircraft production and assembly network operating at full capacity. Discover the story and capabilities of these unique Beluga aircraft.

BelugaXL: the new-generation airlifter

Outsize cargo specialist

Derived from the versatile A330-200, the BelugaXL offers increased capacity vs predecessor, allowing it to carry two 30-metre wings simultaneously – a feat that showcases its immense size and efficiency for Airbus' production. The six-member Airbus BelugaXL fleet efficiently transports outsized aircraft components to support Airbus' accelerating production ramp-up.

The BelugaXL incorporates a lowered cockpit, an enlarged cargo bay structure, modified rear and tail section, and cargo loading systems to ensure efficient handling of payloads. The specially-commissioned airlifters, assembled by Airbus in Toulouse, France, ferry sub-assemblies and components between 11 destinations around Europe. The BelugaXL provides 30% extra transport capacity compared to the BelugaST.

Destinations

11

in Europe
Payload capacity

51t

30% more than the BelugaST
Overall length

63.1m

as long as two blue whales

From A330 to BelugaXL

HISTORY

Ramp-up needs

The BelugaXL was launched in 2014 to support Airbus’ accelerating production ramp-up. Based on the A330-200, the BelugaXL was designed to carry the largest A350 fuselage section, or two A350 30-metre wings.

First flight of Airbus’ BelugaXL with two aircraft wings

Maiden flight

The BelugaXL performed its maiden flight in 2018, featuring the iconic 'smiley' livery that was chosen by Airbus employees in a vote by almost 21,000 participants.

ATI: the Airbus airline

The six-aircraft BelugaXL fleet is operated by Airbus Transport International (ATI), an Airbus subsidiary that has been the company's internal airline since 1996.

The Beluga around the world

BelugaST: the original Airbus airlifter

The original airlifter

For 30 years, the iconic BelugaST (Super Transporter) also known as the A300-600ST, played a central role in connecting our European production and assembly facilities. With the more modern, new-generation BelugaXL fleet taking over as our primary transporter, the ST fleet prepares for a well deserved rest.

As this famous fleet prepares for retirement, a new chapter begins - one that sees these "giants of the skies" transition from industrial workhorses to roles in education, technical training, and heritage preservation.

Learn more about the BelugaST new mission

The Beluga legacy: an outsized origin story

HISTORY

The Super Guppy

In the 1970s, fast-growing Airbus needed an air transporter to link production sites in France, Germany, Great Britain and Spain. A solution was found in the shape of the Boeing Super Guppy. The airlifter was originally designed for NASA, and Airbus’ Super Guppies were built under licence in France.

Birth of the BelugaST: an aviation star

As Airbus grew, by the mid-1990s, the Super Guppy couldn't keep pace. The challenge was clear: develop a new aircraft transport solution capable of moving larger sections faster to support accelerating production. Airbus commissioned the A300-600 Super Transporter, which became affectionately known as the BelugaST, in a nod to the white whale it resembles. An aviation star was born!

BelugaST: Over 20 years of powering Airbus production

The BelugaST supported Airbus’ production ramp-up for over 20 years. From 2022-2024, the BelugaST fleet, operated by the newly created Airbus Beluga Transport operator (AIBT), also served freighter market customers needing to transport large outsized cargo around the world. Today, Beluga XL aircraft have replaced the Beluga ST in service for internal transport, supporting Airbus’ operations by transporting large aircraft parts between the different European manufacturing sites.

Airbus Beluga FAQs

FAQs

What is the Airbus Beluga?

The Airbus A300-600ST (Super Transporter), nicknamed the Beluga for its whale-like shape, is a unique and oversized cargo aircraft specifically designed to transport large aircraft components. The aircraft was designed to meet the logistical challenges of transporting massive components between Airbus production facilities across Europe.

Why is it called the 'Beluga' and why does it have that unique shape?

The aircraft is called the "Beluga" because its appearance — with a large, rounded cargo hold and a forward-positioned cockpit — resembles the beluga whale, known for its bulbous head and wide body. The whale-like design accommodates oversized cargo: the aircraft has a wide, voluminous fuselage to carry large parts like aircraft wings, and the cockpit is set higher up and forward to make room for the cargo hold below.

What is the primary role of the Beluga?

The primary role of the Airbus Beluga is as a transport aircraft for Airbus’s manufacturing operations across Europe. It moves aircraft wings, fuselage sections and other large components too big for standard freight transport. The Beluga aircraft is a vital part of Airbus's supply chain, ensuring that the necessary parts reach assembly lines on time.

What kinds of cargo does the Beluga transport?

The Beluga is designed to carry oversized cargo, especially the large parts required for assembling commercial aircraft. Essentially, anything that is too large for standard freight carriers but critical to Airbus’s production process is a potential load for the Beluga.
Examples include:

Aircraft wings (such as the wings for the Airbus A350 or A320)
Fuselage sections
Vertical and horizontal tailplanes
Large and complex components used in aircraft assembly that exceed the size limitations of regular cargo planes

What are the main differences between the BelugaST and the BelugaXL?

The BelugaST and BelugaXL represent two generations of the Airbus Super Transporter.

The BelugaST is the original version of the aircraft, based on the A300-600 platform. It has a cargo capacity of 47 tonnes and can carry up to 30 metres of cargo length.

The newer BelugaXL is based on the A330 platform, featuring a wider fuselage and more capacity than the BelugaST. It can carry up to 51 tonnes of cargo and handle cargo up to 63 metres in length, making it much more efficient for transporting larger and heavier parts in the Airbus production chain.

How many Beluga aircraft are there?

There is an in-service fleet of six BelugaXLs. Offering 30% more payload capacity than its predecessor the BST, the BXL is central to Airbus’ accelerating production ramp-up, and will phase out the original fleet, providing enhanced cargo transport capabilities for Airbus.

How is the Beluga loaded and unloaded?

The Beluga has a unique front-opening cargo door system that sets it apart from other transport aircraft. The nose of the aircraft lifts up, creating a wide opening for the loading and unloading of oversized cargo that would not fit into the traditional side-loading doors of other cargo planes. The front-opening design is key to efficiently moving oversized components in and out of the aircraft, with the nose of the plane lifting to a near-vertical position, providing unobstructed access to the cargo hold.

Where do the Beluga aircraft typically fly?

The Airbus Beluga aircraft typically operate within Europe, transporting large aircraft components between various Airbus production and assembly facilities. Some of the key locations the Beluga flies between include:

Toulouse, France (headquarters and major assembly plant)
Hamburg, Germany (fuselage production)
Bremen, Germany (component manufacturing)
St. Nazaire, France (A350 wing production)
Broughton (A320, A330 and A350 wing manufacturing)

The Beluga aircraft enable Airbus to efficiently move parts across these various sites, making sure that the assembly of aircraft remains on schedule.

Where are the Airbus BelugaST now?

As we transition to solely using the BelugaXL fleet, our BelugaST's will be repositioned to a new mission. The first of these (BelugaST 5) arrived at Airbus' Broughton site in January 2026 where it will serve as a STEM facility to inspire next generation pioneers.

The STEM facility will be an immersive and accessible experience giving students a real view of the scale of aircraft and educating them on flight physics, design and engineering across the national UK curriculum. Learn more.

Are the Beluga planes still in use?

Yes, for Beluga lovers everywhere, the larger BelugaXL will still be gracing our skies! From 2027, it will take over as our primary transporter for Airbus’ internal logistics to help us meet our production increases. The original ST fleet will continue to service our community on the ground.