Airbus axes Beluga Transport division

January 25, 2025

Airbus has announced the closure of the specialised freight service operated by its iconic Beluga aircraft, resulting in 75 job losses.
The decision to halt all flights operated by Airbus Beluga Transport (AiBT) was confirmed by a company spokesperson following initial reports in the French press.
In January 2022, Airbus announced the launch of an outsized air-cargo service operated by Airbus Transport International (ATI).
The Airbus Beluga Transport airline was established by Airbus to offer outsized cargo flying capacity charter flights using three A300B4-600ST Beluga aircraft and received its Air Operator’s Certificate (AOC) on 9 January 2024.
The decision was made to give up the venture because the Beluga aircraft required very specific operational equipment for loading and off-loading, and it proved to be a challenge to ensure that this was available at some destinations.
Airbus Beluga Transport operated three A300B4-600STs; F-GSTB/2 (751), F-GSTC/3 (765), and F-GSTD/4 (776). F-GSTF/5 (796) was on its AOC but this aircraft has been parked at Bordeaux since June 2024.
The aircraft will be transferred back to Airbus Transport International, the Airbus subsidiary operating six A330-700L BelugaXL aircraft in support of Airbus’ own requirements (transporting major sub assemblies between Airbus sites). It is not clear as to whether the original Beluga aircraft will find a useful role.
In 2019, Airbus began phasing out the original BelugaST model in favour of the larger and more advanced Beluga XL, which is based on the A330 and remains in use for internal operations.