The new air cargo service will use the BelugaST fleet, which until a few months ago was exclusively dedicated to the transport of structures for Airbus aircraft. It will be looking to compete with Antonov Airlines in the transport of oversized cargo.
Airbus Beluga Transport debuted at the end of 2021 with the delivery of a helicopter from the Airbus manufacturing site in Marignane (France) to Kobe (Japan).
Phillippe Sabo, Head of Air Transport International (ATI) and Airbus Large Air Transport, said, «The Beluga’s large cross-section will open up new logistical possibilities for our customers. Helicopters, for example, can be transported without having to be disassembled. Likewise, the world’s largest aircraft engines can be transported by air without major logistical complexities.»
The fleet of five BelugaSTs, based on the A300-600 and serving the European manufacturer since 1995, will be replaced by six BelugaXLs, built on the basis of the A330-200. The new fleet was built to support increased aircraft production. The retired aircraft have the largest internal cross-section in the world, allowing the transport of parts up to 7.1 m wide and 6.7 m high.
Clement Beaunis, project manager for Airbus Beluga Transport, says on this point: «The large dimensions of the hold could be attractive, for example, for satellite manufacturers, who are currently limited in size by the means of transport available, Beluga will help alleviate this constraint».
The fleet will first operate under Air Transport International (ATI), the European conglomerate’s in-house logistics airline. Once the BelugaSTs have been removed from service they will be handed over to a new subsidiary airline, with its own Air Operator Certificate (AOC) and staff. According to Sabo, this will help the flexibility of the operation: «while ATI’s structure is inherently focused on supplying Airbus’ European plants, the new company will seek to serve the needs of the global marketplace».
