Airbus A330-700 Beluga XL

The Airbus A330-700L Beluga XL is a large cargo aircraft derived from the A330-200 widebody airliner, purpose-built to transport oversized aircraft components between Airbus production sites across Europe. It replaces the earlier BelugaST (based on the A300-600), offering a larger cargo bay volume and higher payload capacity to support increased Airbus production rates. The Beluga XL features a distinctive bulbous fuselage with a lowered main deck, a rear-hinged front-opening nose, and an unpressurized cargo hold. Its cargo bay is approximately 8 metres wide and can accommodate two A350 XWB wings simultaneously, a capability the earlier BelugaST lacked. Airbus Transport International operates the Beluga XL fleet, with a planned fleet of six aircraft to progressively replace the five BelugaSTs. The aircraft entered commercial service in January 2020 and has since become a recognizable sight at Airbus facilities and partner airports across Europe.