newstodate.aero

Jan 09, 2024 (newstodate): The market for off-size air transport has suffered from the loss of the An-255 Mriya freighter by the start of Russia's war on Ukraine.
   Now the commercial debut of a new provider of uplift, Airbus Beluga Transport is secured with the company obtaining its AOC this month, with so far three aircraft in the fleet and a fourth to be added later in 2024, all based at Francazal airport close to Toulouse.
   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 transferred to the 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 the capacity of carriage of shipments up to 7.1 m width, 6.7 m height, and no less than 39 m of length.