Airbus SAS
Airbus A330-700L BelugaXL
The Airbus A330‑700L BelugaXL, developed by Airbus SAS, is a specialised wide‑body freighter that entered service in 2020 as the successor to the original Beluga ST and Beluga ST‑X. Its lineage began in the early 1990s when Airbus identified the need for a larger transport capable of moving oversized aircraft components between its European assembly sites, a requirement that grew with the increasing size of the A350 XWB and A380 programmes. By stretching the standard A330‑200 fuselage and adding a bulbous, 7‑meter‑high cargo deck, the BelugaXL can accommodate payloads up to 51 t and a volume of 1 560 m³, roughly 30 % more than its predecessor. Powered by Rolls‑Royce Trent 700 engines, it maintains the A330’s efficient aerodynamics, achieving a range of about 4 600 km with a full load. Advanced avionics and a digital cockpit streamline operations while the modular design allows rapid re‑configuration for maintenance. The BelugaXL’s capability to ferry wings, fuselage sections and other large components in a single flight dramatically reduces logistics time and cost, making it a cornerstone of Airbus’s global supply chain and a unique icon in the history of aerospace transportation.
Classification
Dimensions
- Wing Area
- 361.6 square metre
- Length
- 63.1 metre
- Height
- 19.86 metre
- Mass
- 127500 kilogram
Performance
- Maximum Speed
- 460 knot
- Service Ceiling
- 10668 metre
- Range
- 4260 kilometre
Production & History
- Units Produced
- 6
- First Flight
- 2018
- Service Entry
- 2020
Design & Classification
- Country of Origin
- Manufacturer
- Airbus SAS
- Developer
- Airbus SAS
- Engine
- Rolls-Royce Trent 700
- Operator
-
Airbus Transport International
- Wikidata ID
- Q21814460