Overview
Why this aircraft matters
Launched in 2014, the programme produced six aircraft. The first entered service in 2020 and the final test aircraft joined the operating fleet in 2024.
Size and design
A distinctive enlarged upper fuselage gives 30 percent more transport capacity than the earlier BelugaST. A hinged lower cockpit keeps the cargo door unobstructed.
At 63.1 metres long and 60.3 metres across, the BelugaXL occupies a very different physical envelope from an everyday single-aisle airliner. Dimensions alone do not tell the entire story: payload, cabin volume and intended role determine how that space is used.
Operators and current status
Airbus Transport International.
In Airbus internal transport service. Operator lists can change; they are reviewed against first-party material and are not a live fleet-tracking service.
Notable records
- Largest cargo-bay cross-section of an operational cargo aircraft at entry into service
- Can carry two A350 wings
Source notes
Airbus directly publishes the 63-metre length, 51-tonne payload, 4,000-kilometre range and fleet count. Supporting dimensions are based on Airbus technical material.
Last verified: 9 September 2026. Values may differ by variant, operating condition and source definition.