In a bold move marking the international aviation industry, Airbus has announced the termination of its Airbus Beluga Transport subsidiary, marking the end of service of the iconic Beluga aircraft. This decision has led to the suspension of all flights and the loss of 75 jobs. Thus, the termination of the unique whale-like shape aircraft’ s operations has changed the aviation landscape.
Unique whale-like shape and considerable challenges
Airbus has suspended all flight operations of its subsidiary Airbus Beluga and will shut down the unit returning the A300-600ST Belugas to the AOC of Airbus Transport International (ATI). The last flights took place on January 17, 2025. It was also operated by F-GSTB from Bordeaux Mérignac to Toulouse Blagnac.
The Airbus Beluga, which is popular for its big volume capacity and unique whale-like shape has been a vital addition to the Airbus fleet since its appearance in 1995. Initially, it was designed to transfer large aircraft parts between manufacturing sites across Europe. Particularly, it was wide enough to transfer two full-size super-puma helicopters. It also started replacing its first generation of planes with the more advanced version Beluga XLs based on the A330 in 2019. In 2022, the latter repurposed the previous jets launching AiBT with four planes offering to transport oversized cargo for customers in aerospace, energy, aid sectors and military.
However, the company has faced significant obstacles in managing the Beluga fleet. The Airbus company stated that there has been a significant shift in particular areas towards using maritime transport despite the increasing demand for global air freight. Nonetheless, that was not the main reason for shutting the unique Airbus Beluga Transport business. Specifically, a spokesperson stated:
“AiBT is not ending operations because of changes in the air freight market. The main challenge was the significant operational difficulties” since the plane demanded specially trained teams and loading equipment.
The fleet’s manufacturer did not disclose the reasons behind the operator’s termination. Though, he mentioned the main cause was the economic factor. The medium and long-term future of the aircraft also remains uncertain. The extend to which ATI will be operating the Beluga depends on the future planning. Notably, the company’s spokesperson mentioned:
We confirm that the decision has been taken to terminate the Airbus Beluga Transport business for outsized cargo missions. All flights operated by the BelugaST fleet are suspended as of now. The closure project has just started and it is too early to predict a completion date. One of our main priorities during this time is to support our employees during the social process
As Airbus closes this chapter of its fleet one wonders: How will the shut down of the iconic Beluga influence the global aviation sector? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
Aviation Reporter - Originally from Greece, Elpida is an English language literature graduate, currently pursuing her Master's degree in Linguistics. Her studies have helped her understand the complexities of language and the importance in conveying the desirable message to readers when writing content. Alongside this, Elpida loves travelling so looks forward to bringing her passion and interest to the readers of Travel Radar!
