Airbus BelugaXL’s Sixth Aircraft Takes Flight

Airbus marks a significant milestone as its sixth BelugaXL aircraft successfully completes its first flight, finalizing the project to replace its older Beluga fleet dedicated to handling oversized cargo. The company celebrated this achievement with a special LinkedIn update, highlighting the 5-year anniversary since the first flight of their initial outsized super transporter.

The BelugaXL, a heavily-modified A330, rolled out of production recently and is specifically designed to fly aerostructures between Airbus manufacturing facilities. With all six aircraft equipped with Rolls-Royce Trent 700 engines, they are set to join the XL siblings, supporting critical cargo missions and transporting aircraft sections efficiently across Airbus production sites. This advancement signifies Airbus’ commitment to enhancing its cargo capabilities for the future.