Airbus BelugaXL enters service, adding XL capacity to the fleet
Marina Lystseva – Марина Лысцева, Architect
The H160 Receives EASA Type Certification Approval
Why have Airlines Started to Carry Cargo with Passenger Aircraft Amid the Pandemic?
Bahri Kesici Appointed General Manager of Civil Aviation
DHL Express Upgrades its Fleet with Six New Boeing 777 Freighters This Year
GE Aerospace to Invest Up to $20 Million in EPISCenter to Support Hybrid Electric Aircraft Engine Development



Airbus BelugaXL enters service, adding XL capacity to the fleet

January 14, 2020
Airbus BelugaXL enters service, adding XL capacity to the fleet

The BelugaXL has entered into service, providing Airbus with 30% extra transport capacity in order to support the on-going production ramp-up of commercial aircraft programmes.

The aircraft, which is an integral part of Airbus’ industrial system, made its first operational flight on the 9 January. This is the first of six BelugaXL to begin work alongside the BelugaST predecessors, with the additional aircraft being introduced between 2020 and 2023.

Launched just over 5 years ago, in November 2014, the entry into service milestone marks yet another successful achievement for the internal aircraft programme which was awarded Type Certification by the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) in November 2019, following an intensive flight test campaign that saw the BelugaXL complete more than 200 flight tests, clocking over 700 flight hours.

At 63 metres long and 8 metres wide, the BelugaXL has the largest cargo bay cross-section of all existing cargo aircraft worldwide. The BelugaXL can carry two A350 XWB wings compared to the BelugaST, which can only carry one. With a maximum payload of 51 tonnes, the BelugaXL has a range of 4,000km (2200nm).

The BelugaXL is based on an A330-200 Freighter, enabling the re-use of existing components and equipment and is powered by Rolls Royce Trent 700 engines. The lowered cockpit, the cargo bay structure and the rear-end and tail were newly developed jointly with partners, giving the aircraft its distinctive look.

The BelugaXL is the latest addition to Airbus’ transportation portfolio. While air transport remains the primary method for transporting large aircraft components, Airbus also uses road, rail and sea transport to move parts between its production sites. Like the BelugaST, the aircraft will operate from 11 destinations in Europe, continuing to strengthen industrial capabilities and enabling Airbus to deliver on its commitments.


25 Years of Innovation: How Türkiye Technology Center is Powering GE Aerospace’s Global Future
Dubai Airshow 2025 Unveils New Features as Registration Opens, Promising Unmatched Experiences on and off the Runway
KEYVAN Aviation and MTI Ltd. Sign MoU for Aviation Weather & Data Solution Collaboration
Gulfstream Unveils Redesigned London Showroom
Copyrights © 2019 All Rights Reserved by Aviation Turkey.