Airbus Beluga: The whale plane

What is the Airbus Beluga?

The Airbus Beluga, also known as the whale plane, but officially known as the Airbus A300-600ST (Super Transporter), is a cargo aircraft designed to carry oversized components, especially parts of other airplanes. Its bulbous shape, reminiscent of a Beluga whale, gives it both its nickname and its unmistakable profile.

There are now two versions of the Beluga Airbus in operation:

• Beluga ST (original model, based on the A300-600)
• BelugaXL (based on the A330-200, larger and more advanced)

Why does the Airbus Beluga look like that? 

The reason for the Airbus Beluga’s bulbous shape directly above the cockpit is to accommodate for the oversized objects it must carry. Although many scientific and technological advancements take direct inspiration from nature and its creatures, and this Airbus’ resemblance to nature’s beluga whales is uncanny, it was only nicknamed the Beluga after it was built. That being said, once it was built, its livery (the smile and eyes) was made to honor (and emphasize) this charming similarity between it and the whale.

What is the purpose of the Airbus Beluga?

The Airbus Beluga’s primary mission is to transport oversized components, but its uses go far beyond flying airplane parts between Airbus factories around Europe.

• It transports large aircraft parts like wings, fuselage sections, and tails between Airbus production sites in the UK, Germany, Spain, and France.
• Importantly, the Beluga also transports critical satellite equipment and spacecraft components to the Guiana Space Centre in French Guiana. This is where the European Space Agency (ESA) launches rockets, including Ariane and Vega.
• In 2022, it also supported the delivery of essential parts necessary to launch the first Airbus Eurostar Neo satellite to the Kennedy Space Center (Airbus, 2022).
• The Airbus Beluga also carries parts for the International Space Station (ISS) and other high-tech space hardware, supporting vital space missions.

This versatility makes the Beluga an essential link not just in aviation manufacturing but also in Europe’s space exploration efforts.

How big is the Airbus Beluga?

Here’s how the Airbus Beluga XL stacks up:

That makes it one of the largest cargo aircraft in the world - rivaled only by the Boeing Dreamlifter and Antonov An-124/225 (FlightGlobal, 2023).

How many Airbus Belugas are there?

As of 2025 there are a total of 11 Airbus Belugas in service:

• 5 Beluga STs were built between 1994 - 2001.
• 6 BelugaXLs are entering service, with the final ones delivered in 2024.

The older ST models are being reassigned to commercial oversized cargo missions under the Airbus Beluga Transport (ABT) service.

Is the Airbus Beluga bigger than the Boeing Dreamlifter?

Aviation fanatics and regular folks alike would like to settle the debate: Boeing Dreamlifter or Airbus Beluga - which is bigger? Well, they both are:

• The BelugaXL has more cargo space by volume (78,000 ft³ vs. 65,000 ft³ for the Dreamlifter).
• But the Dreamlifter can carry slightly more weight and has a longer fuselage.

So in terms of internal volume, the BelugaXL is larger than the Boeing Dreamlifer, although only capable of about half the payload.

Can the public fly in the Airbus Beluga?

No. The Airbus Beluga is a dedicated cargo aircraft and not designed for passenger use. It typically carries a cockpit crew and one or two loadmasters, but no passengers.

What are some interesting facts about the Airbus Beluga?

Here are some fun facts and curiosities:

• It’s nicknamed after a whale: Its wide forehead and rounded fuselage resemble the Beluga whale - hence the name.
• It is too heavy for most taxiways: The Beluga Airbus would damage most airport taxiways because of its incredible weight. Therefore, it can briefly land to offload but it is not allowed to taxi in most airports!
• It can carry an entire A350 wing: Something even many cargo planes can't handle.
• BelugaXLs are painted with smiling whale faces: One of the rare planes with a “personality.”
• It replaced the Super Guppy, a modified Boeing 377 used for similar transport missions.
• It flies all over Europe and beyond - even landing at specially modified airports like Hawarden (UK), Bremen (Germany) and Florida, USA.
• The BelugaXL can carry two A350 wings at once - something the Beluga ST could never do.
• It transports satellite parts and components for ESA rocket launches to French Guiana, supporting Europe’s space program and missions to the ISS.

What airports does the Airbus Beluga use?

Some airports regularly visited by the Beluga fleet:

• Toulouse-Blagnac Airport (France)  -  Airbus HQ
  
• Hamburg Finkenwerder (Germany)  -  Aircraft production
  
• Broughton (UK) - Wing manufacturing
  
• Getafe (Spain) - Tail production
  
• St. Nazaire (France) - Fuselage assembly
  
• Kourou, French Guiana - ESA rocket launch site

Since the plane is so large, it requires customised ground support and reinforced taxiways.

Is the Airbus Beluga still in use?

Absolutely! In fact, the BelugaXL is increasing operations as Airbus scales up aircraft production. Meanwhile, the older ST models are now leased for commercial oversized cargo jobs - everything from satellites to helicopters.

Airbus Beluga vs. Antonov An-225: Which is bigger?

The Antonov An-225 Mriya (now destroyed in the 2022 Ukraine conflict) remains the heaviest aircraft ever built and could carry a higher payload (250 tonnes). But the BelugaXL has a larger internal cargo space, optimized for aerospace components, not just raw weight (BBC, 2022).

Final Thoughts: Why the Airbus Beluga Matters

The Airbus Beluga might look like a flying cartoon character, but it plays a vital role in the modern aviation ecosystem. Without it, Airbus couldn’t efficiently build aircraft like the A320 or A350. It’s a symbol of innovation, logistics mastery, and a little bit of whimsy in the sky.

Want to track a Beluga Airbus? 

Curious about this plane’s trajectory or hoping to spot one mid-flight? You can track all 5 Beluga STs and 6 Beluga XLs using Flight Radar: 

 https://www.flightradar24.com/data/airlines/4y-bga/fleet

FAQ Summary

What is the Airbus Beluga used for?

It’s used to transport oversized aircraft parts between Airbus factories, and also to carry satellite and spacecraft components to French Guiana for ESA rocket launches.

How big is the BelugaXL?

It’s 63.1 m long, with a cargo volume of 2,209 m³ and can carry up to 51 tonnes.

Can you fly in a Beluga?

No, it’s a cargo-only aircraft without passenger seating.

Is the Airbus Beluga bigger than the Dreamlifter?

It has more internal cargo volume, but the Dreamlifter can carry heavier payloads.

How many Airbus Belugas are there?

5 Beluga STs and 6 BelugaXLs.

Compensation for felayed or cancelled flights

Under EU and UK regulations, you may be entitled to up to €600 per passenger if your flight was delayed by 3 hours or more, or cancelled within 14 days of its scheduled departure. This applies when the disruption was the airline’s responsibility and not due to extraordinary circumstances such as severe weather. You could have up to 6 years to claim your flight compensation! Want to check if your flight is eligible?

Sources:

Airbus. (2016, December). From ST to XL: Defining the differences between Airbus’ two generations of Beluga aircraft. Airbus Newsroom. https://www.airbus.com/en/newsroom/news/2016-12-from-st-to-xl-defining-the-differences-between-airbus-two-generations-of 

Airbus. (2022, October 17). Airbus Beluga delivers Airbus satellite to Kennedy Space Center. Retrieved August 7, 2025, from Airbus newsroom. 

https://www.airbus.com/en/newsroom/press-releases/2022-10-airbus-beluga-delivers-airbus-satellite-to-kennedy-space-center

Airbus. (2017, January). Development milestone: Integration begins for Airbus’ next‑generation Beluga XL. Airbus Newsroom. Retrieved from Airbus newsroom. https://www.airbus.com/en/newsroom/news/2017-01-development-milestone-integration-begins-for-airbus-next-generation-beluga-xl 

Airbus. (n.d.). Freighter aircraft: Super Transporter (Beluga). Retrieved August 7, 2025, from Airbus (about Airbus freighter family) https://www.airbus.com/en/products-services/commercial-aircraft/freighter/beluga#:~:text=The%20primary%20role%20of%20the%20Airbus%20Beluga%20is%20as%20a,big%20for%20standard%20freight%20transport

Guy, J. (2022, February 28). World’s largest plane destroyed in Ukraine. CNN. Retrieved August 7, 2025, from CNN Travel.https://edition.cnn.com/travel/article/antonov-an-225-largest-plane-destroyed-ukraine-scli-intl