Airbus weighs museum future for original Beluga cargo jets
Airbus says its original Beluga ST outsize cargo aircraft are being gradually phased out, with the company considering exhibition or educational uses for the retiring planes.
The aircraft are a familiar sight in Deeside and Flintshire, regularly flying large components between Airbus production sites, including wings manufactured at Broughton.
According to a report by aeroTELEGRAPH, Airbus uses a fleet of specialist freighters to transport major aircraft sections such as wings and fuselage parts between factories. The original fleet consisted of five Airbus A300-600ST aircraft, commonly known as Beluga STs, which were later supplemented and replaced by six larger Beluga XL aircraft based on the A330.
The report says that in 2022 Airbus set up a commercial cargo operation called Airbus Beluga Transport, known as AIBT, using the older Beluga ST aircraft. The airline was intended to carry very large cargo for external customers, including aerospace and military equipment.
AeroTELEGRAPH reports that the operation received regulatory approval in France in late 2023, followed by approval in the United States in early 2024. However, Airbus announced in January 2025 that the commercial airline would cease operations after failing to attract sufficient business.
Following the closure of AIBT, several of the Beluga ST aircraft returned to internal Airbus transport duties. Airbus said this helped maintain operations while Beluga XL aircraft were undergoing scheduled maintenance, although the newer fleet is generally sufficient to meet internal transport needs.
The Beluga ST aircraft are now being withdrawn from service, with aeroTELEGRAPH reporting that two aircraft completed their final flights in September. Airbus said the decision was not driven by technical concerns, despite a number of airworthiness directives being issued for the type in recent months, which the company said related only to inspections and revisions.
Airbus has not confirmed where the aircraft may eventually be displayed, but a spokesperson told aeroTELEGRAPH:
“The plan is to exhibit the Beluga ST aircraft or use them for educational purposes – corresponding options are currently being examined.”
The spokesperson added:
“As an aircraft manufacturer with strong European roots, the teams working on the project are primarily considering exhibition venues in Europe.”
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