newstodate.aero

Sep 12, 2023 (newstodate): The market for off-size air transport is now to see the commercial debut of a new provider of uplift: Airbus Beluga Transport.
   The market has suffered greatly with the loss of the so far largest aircraft, the AN-225 Mriya that was bombed to pieces by a Russian air attack on its base at Gostomel, in Ukraine.
   With the introduction of the Airbus Beluga XL, built on the Airbus A330 aircraft, for transport of aircraft fuselages and wings, Airbus no longer has an in-house need for its five Beluga freighters that have now been transferred to a new Airbus company aiming at providing uplift for large out-size and voluminous shipments.
   A new on-board loading system has been developed to facilitate loading and unloading of shipments at airports outside the Airbus system airports.
   The Beluga freighter can carry up to 40 tonnes of cargo - but its real competitive edge is to allow for carriage of shipments up to 7.1 m width, 6.7 m height, and no less than 39 m of length..
   Named Airbus Beluga Transport, the new company will officially lift-off from October 1, 2023, pending the landing of its AOC.