Airbus A330-700L BelugaXL

Airbus · France · first flew 2018 · transport aircraft

Variant of the Airbus A330-300 — family overview.

The Airbus BelugaXL (A330-700L) is an outsize cargo transport derived from the A330-200 airliner, designed to carry large aircraft components between Airbus production sites. Its distinctive swollen upper fuselage gives it a beluga whale appearance.

Recognition (WEFT)

W — Wings	Low-mounted, swept
E — Engines	2 × turbofan, wing-mounted
F — Fuselage	Enormous bulbous fuselage hump for oversized cargo
T — Tail	Conventional

WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.

Spot it by:

Enormous bulbous fuselage hump for oversized cargo
Twin turbofan underslung wing engines
Drooped nose section with separate lower deck

Unmistakable: an enormous asymmetric fuselage with a massive upper cargo hold bulging above the original A330 lower fuselage; the small cockpit sits on the lower forward fuselage beneath the cargo bay.

Specifications

The Airbus A330-700L BelugaXL has a length of 63.1 m (207 ft).
It has a wingspan of 60.3 m (198 ft).
Typical crew: 2.

Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.

History

First flown in July 2018, the BelugaXL was designed to replace the earlier Beluga (A300-600ST) fleet as Airbus production volumes increased. It entered service in January 2020 and is operated exclusively by Airbus Transport International.

Variants

The BelugaXL is produced as a single type; Airbus has built a fleet of six aircraft to support its supply chain.

Where you'll see it

Operated exclusively by Airbus Transport International, the BelugaXL shuttles wing sections, fuselage panels, and other large sub-assemblies between facilities in France, Germany, Spain, and the UK.

Related aircraft

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