TOULOUSE- European aerospace giant Airbus has officially announced the closure of its Airbus Beluga Transport operation, a recently established airline division designed to leverage its specialized cargo aircraft fleet.
The decision marks a significant strategic shift for one of the largest aerospace manufacturers in the world.
Photo: Clément AlloingAirbus Shut down Beluga Airline
The company initially created the division to explore alternative commercial uses for its A300-600ST Beluga aircraft, which were phased out of internal logistics networks following the introduction of the larger A330-700L BelugaXL.
In November 2023, Airbus secured a French air operator’s certificate for the Beluga Transport division, signaling its commitment to the venture.
However, the airframer has now confirmed its intent to terminate the business entirely. According to a statement provided to FlightGlobal, confirming reports from the French newspaper Les Echos, all flights operated by the A300-600ST fleet have been suspended indefinitely.
Airbus acknowledged the complexity of the closure process, emphasizing that the project is in its initial stages. The company has not yet established a definitive timeline for completing the operational shutdown.
Despite the uncertainty, Airbus has prioritized supporting its employees through the anticipated social transition.
Photo: Clément AlloingReason Not Revealed
Airbus has not disclosed specific reasons for terminating its Beluga Transport operations, a venture launched just three years ago to explore third-party cargo transport markets.
The airline aimed to leverage five A300-600ST aircraft for transporting specialized cargo like satellites, engines, and helicopters, capitalizing on the diminishing availability of high-capacity transport options such as the Antonov An-124.
The A300-600ST aircraft, previously utilized in Airbus’s internal logistics network through Airbus Transport International for ferrying aerostructures between manufacturing facilities, was being repositioned for commercial charter operations.
Last year, the company highlighted its strategic expansion by recruiting 60 personnel and planning to deploy pilots from Airbus Transport International while simultaneously training additional cockpit crew.
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Photo: By aeroprints.com, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=32535925About Airbus BelugaXL
Airbus developed the BelugaXL (A330-743L) as a specialized large transport aircraft to address increasing manufacturing logistics challenges. Designed to replace the original BelugaST, the aircraft transports massive aircraft components, particularly wings, with enhanced capacity and efficiency.
The BelugaXL first flew on 19 July 2018 and received type certification on 13 November 2019. Airbus Transport integrated the aircraft into its operational fleet on 9 January 2020, marking a significant milestone in aerospace logistics.
In 2013, Airbus recognized limitations in its existing BelugaST fleet, which could not sustain the company’s production growth. After evaluating multiple alternative transportation solutions, including the Antonov An-124 and An-225, Boeing C-17, Dreamlifter, and A400M, the company opted to modify its own aircraft design.
The BelugaXL program launched in November 2014, with plans to construct five aircraft to replace the existing five BelugaSTs. A design freeze was announced on 16 September 2015, with the total program investment reaching €1 billion for development and production.
Despite the introduction of the BelugaXL, the original BelugaSTs retain potential operational value.
These aircraft potentially have 10-20 years of remaining flying life and may be offered for sale or utilized to serve external customers, representing a potential additional revenue stream for Airbus.
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