Airbus to close Beluga Transport unit
Airbus (AIB, Toulouse Blagnac) has suspended all flight operations of its subsidiary Airbus Beluga Transport (Toulouse Blagnac) and will wind the unit down, returning the four A300-600ST Belugas to the AOC of Airbus Transport International (ATI), Cargo Facts has reported.
The last flight under the operator's 'BGA' code took place on January 17, 2025, and was operated by F-GSTB (msn 751) from Bordeaux Mérignac to Toulouse Blagnac. The other three Belugas are also in storage:
- F-GSTC (msn 765) at Toulouse Francazal since January 6,
- F-GSTD (msn 776) at Bordeaux Mérignac since January 17, and
- F-GSTF (msn 796) at Bordeaux since June 2024.
"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," a spokesperson told ch-aviation.
The manufacturer did not communicate the reasons behind the operator's closure but, in a letter to customers, said it was due to "economic factors." Airbus said that the medium- and long-term future of the aircraft had not been decided yet. "To what extent ATI will be operating the BelugaSTs is subject to the respective ongoing planning," the manufacturer said.
Airbus Beluga Transport launched in mid-2022 to commercialise the unique capabilities of A300-600ST, converted nose-loaders formerly used by Airbus to carry large aircraft parts between its assembly sites. The carrier was certified in December 2023.
Airbus Transport International replaced the Belugas with larger A330-700ST BelugaXLs. It operates six units of the type, having taken the final one in mid-2024.
