Airbus launches A330 Beluga

Airbus has launched the development and production of five new Beluga aircraft. The new Belugas will be based on the A330 with a large re-use of existing components and equipment.
The first of the five new Belugas will enter in service in mid-2019. The existing Beluga fleet will operate in parallel, and will be progressively retired through to 2025.

20 years of Belugas in the air

Airbus is this week celebrating the maiden flight on 13 September 1994 of the Beluga cargo aircraft, named after the white whale because of its remarkable shape. The five aircraft transport aircraft component parts between Airbus’ European manufacturing sites.