BelugaST Fleet Goes Belly-Up as Airbus Closes Cargo Airline

Weak demand and operational complexity prompt manufacturer to exit project cargo market.

Eric Kulisch

Wednesday, January 29, 2025 at 01:57 PM ET

Verified

Edited By:

Travis Tingle

Airbus launched a specialty freighter division to haul whale-size loads, but the business proved expensive to operate and unable to attract customers. [Credit: Airbus]

Key Takeaways:

Airbus has shut down its specialized cargo airline, Airbus Beluga Transport (AiBT), citing operational challenges and weak demand for its oversize shipment services.
The BelugaST superfreighter, despite its unique volumetric capacity, proved uncompetitive due to complex loading procedures, weight limitations, and high charter costs, completing only six external missions in 2024.
The aircraft's design limitations and operational requirements made it less versatile than other heavy-lift freighters, hindering its ability to attract consistent third-party business.
The closure highlights a broader industry concern about the future availability of aircraft capable of transporting oversize and heavy cargo, as older fleets like the Antonov An-124 and Boeing 747 freighters are aging or being phased out.

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Airbus has shut down its new for-hire cargo airline focused on transporting oversize shipments using the odd-shaped Beluga superfreighter because of self-described operational challenges and what appears to be weak demand for the service.

The aerospace manufacturer last week terminated Airbus Beluga Transport (AiBT), the specialized airfreight business introduced int March for hauling outsize cargo, and suspended BelugaST flights, Airbus confirmed in a statement.