Freighter Aircraft
Capable freighters and airlifters
Airbus builds highly-capable freighters and airlifters to fulfill a full range of cargo lift requirements. The A330-200F is the only new-generation cargo aircraft available today that meets operations’ needs in the mid-size, long-haul segment. For A330s that have completed their useful operational service as passenger jetliners, the A330P2F freighter conversion option offers a solution that is both cost-effective and highly-efficient.
For the airlift of oversized cargo loads, Airbus operates a fleet of A300-600ST Beluga Super Transporters that support the manufacturing flow within the company’s European production network – operated by the Airbus Transport International affiliate.
To accommodate the sustained output of commercial jetliners, and to support the A350 ramp-up and other production increases, the BelugaXL super transporter will enter service during the second half of 2019 – with six aircraft succeeding five previous-generation Beluga A300-600 ST currently in service.
Airbus freighters media gallery
Celebrating the BelugaXL airlifter’s Type Certification in November 2019 are, from left to right: Florentino Bascunana, BelugaXL Project Certification Manager at EASA; Sébastien Freissinet, Airbus BelugaXL Type Certification Manager; Veronique Roca, Airbus BelugaXL Technical Director and Chief Engineer; Bertrand George, Airbus Sr. VP & Head of BelugaXL Programme; Jean-Brice Dumont, Airbus Executive VP - Engineering; Carla Iorio, EASA, Head of CT1.4 Special Aeroplanes & Projects
The first flight of Airbus’ second BelugaXL is celebrated by the flight crew that performed it (from left to right): Karl-Heinz Mai, Experimental Test Pilot – Captain for the flight; Michel Gagneux, Experimental Test Pilot; Gérard Maisonneuve, Test Flight Engineer; and Jaime Angoloti; Flight Test Engineer
BelugaXL 2 First flight Maiden flight of Airbus’ second BelugaXL – Landing Airbus’ next-generation oversize airlifter programme marked another key milestone with the successful first flight of the no. 2 BelugaXL, which took off from, and landed at, Toulouse-Blagnac Airport in southwestern France #BelugaXL #XLsmile
Airbus’ no. 2 BelugaXL – which took off and landed at Toulouse-Blagnac Airport in southwestern France on its 15 April 2019 first flight – carried a four-person crew (from left to right): Karl-Heinz Mai, Experimental Test Pilot – Captain for the flight; Michel Gagneux, Experimental Test Pilot; Gérard Maisonneuve, Test Flight Engineer; and Jaime Angoloti; Flight Test Engineer