The unique-looking Airbus Beluga aircraft now has its own airline.

The odd-looking Airbus Beluga receives its own airline designation.

A unique-looking and outsized cargo plane that has been a favourite among plane enthusiasts for almost two decades is being replaced by a new version. This aircraft, fondly known as the Beluga, was primarily used to transfer aircraft parts between Airbus' facilities located in various countries across Europe. A new generation of this plane is now taking over, and the original fleet has been repurposed to form a separate freight airline called Airbus Beluga Transport.

"There aren't many options when it comes to oversize items," says Benoît Lemonnier, head of Airbus Beluga Transport. "Typically, you need to disassemble a cargo to fit it into an airplane. On the Beluga, it just fits."

The Original Fleet

The very first Beluga was initially named the Airbus Super Transporter, but its unusual appearance, resemblance to a white Arctic whale, led to it being nicknamed Beluga ST. It took flight for the first time in 1994 and commenced service in 1995, with four more of its kind produced over the following years, the last of which rolled out in late 2000.

As Lemonnier explains,"The Beluga was created to transport large sections of Airbus aircraft from various manufacturing facilities in France, Germany, the UK, Spain, and Turkey to the final assembly lines in Toulouse and Hamburg. It is an exceptionally designed aircraft, because it's actually a transformation of an A300-600, with the entire front removed and replaced with special fuselage shells, a larger door, and dedicated flight equipment."

Before the Beluga, Airbus had been operating a fleet of Super Guppies - modified 1950s Boeing Stratocruisers, previously utilized by NASA for transportation of spacecraft parts. Now, history is set to repeat itself, as the original Belugas are being replaced by a more spacious and more advanced version – the Beluga XL.

Longer and larger than the ST version, the Beluga XL is capable of carrying both wings of the Airbus A350, the company's latest long-haul aircraft that is in competition with the Boeing 787 and 777.

"The XL is based on a much more modern platform, the A330," adds Lemonnier. "Since 2018, six XLs have been constructed, with the most recent set to be delivered shortly to the internal Airbus airline. The Beluga XL can entirely replace the Beluga ST on the internal Airbus network, making the STs available for alternative use."

Staying in Business

The original Beluga STs, despite their impending replacement, are still expected to serve for many more years. "Depending on how often they are in use, they might remain in operation for another 20 years, with ease," asserts Lemonnier.

One will continue to carry aircraft parts for Airbus, while the remaining four will be solely operated by the new cargo airline.

These aircraft have already been used beyond Airbus operations, although on a limited basis. "From 2000 to 2010, we did some chartered flights when there was spare capacity, using the Beluga STs to transport helicopters and satellites," notes Lemonnier.

In 2022, Airbus completed a series of test flights in preparation for the launch of the airline. "The distinguishing feature now is that we are fully independent, allowing us to be flexible for our customers and accommodate date changes, something that would likely be impossible for the Airbus internal airline," says Lemonnier.

Despite its bulky nature, the Beluga's cargo holds are 50% wider and 50% higher than regular cargo aircraft like the Boeing 747-8F. This makes it ideal for transporting voluminous items such as satellites, helicopters, aircraft engines, flight simulators, yachts, and military vehicles. Its key selling point is the ability to carry multiple aircraft sections, making it extremely valuable to Airbus.

Flying on a Beluga can be a different experience from what you'd find on standard commercial freighters, as it requires specialized training for pilots due to its large size and unique aerodynamics. However, upon entering the cockpit, you'll find the setup to be just like that of an A300-600.

The Beluga faces a couple of limitations. Its range is limited to 3,000 kilometers or 1,600 nautical miles. This necessitates at least two stops during flights from Europe to the United States. Additionally, the maximum cargo weight this aircraft can carry is 40 metric tons. Competitors like the Antonov AN-124 can transport three times the amount, and the former largest aircraft in the world, the AN-225, which was destroyed in 2022, had a staggering cargo capacity of 250 tons.

A Specialized Niche

The targeted usage of the Airbus Beluga Transport is significantly different from what is typical for commercial freighters, according to Gary Crichlow, an aviation analyst at the AviationValues consultancy firm.

"Transporting helicopters, satellites, and other large assets involves operational complexities that go beyond what's required in delivering packages for Amazon," opines Crichlow. "For instance, the maximum altitude at which a helicopter's structure is certificated determines the maximum altitude that the transport flight can operate."

Crichlow points out that although the Beluga ST's 40 metric ton capacity isn't impressive compared to Antonov aircraft, there are five of them in total, and Airbus boasts that their cargo holds are among the most spacious in both civil and military planes in operation.

He adds, "It's obvious that Airbus isn't trying to become Amazon Prime, but considering they've already recovered each Beluga's €183 million ($199 million) investment cost over the past two decades, this appears to be a relatively safe way to make money from a specific segment of the freighter market."

Read also:

Traveling with Airbus Beluga Transport offers a unique experience due to the aircraft's specialized design and large size.Despite the arrival of the Beluga XL, the original Beluga ST fleet continues to serve a vital role in the transportation of oversized items, making occasional trips beyond Airbus operations.