Aviation

Airbus Welcomes Sixth and Final BelugaXL to Complete Fleet

In June 2024, Airbus marked a significant milestone with the induction of the last of six BelugaXL aircraft into its fleet.

This completion heralds a new era for Airbus Transport International (ATI), the company’s internal airline, enhancing its industrial capabilities with a new generation of heavy-lift aircraft. The BelugaXL, successor to the iconic A300-600ST ‘Beluga’, has been pivotal in this transformation since its first introduction as a test platform in 2018.

The BelugaXL program was initiated in 2014, bringing together a centralized development team of around 1,000 engineers and suppliers. This consolidation of expertise allowed for more streamlined decision-making and process simplification, accelerating the aircraft’s development timeline. By reusing parts, equipment, and design principles from other Airbus platforms, the BelugaXL was able to move from the drawing board to its maiden flight in just five years.

Built on the A330-200 freighter platform, each BelugaXL boasts a payload capacity of 51 tonnes and a range of 2,200 nautical miles, offering 30% more payload capacity than its predecessor. Its cavernous hold can accommodate the largest A350 fuselage sections or two 30-metre long wings, doubling the capacity of the original Beluga. This enhanced capability is central to Airbus’ strategy of ramping up production across its commercial aircraft programs in 2024.

ATI, an Airbus subsidiary since 1996, will now operate the complete fleet of six BelugaXLs. These specially commissioned airlifters, built in Toulouse, France, are integral to Airbus’ logistics, transporting sub-assemblies and components between manufacturing sites in France, Germany, Spain, and the UK. Each mission features a remarkable turnaround time of just 70 minutes, facilitated by specially designed loading facilities.

The inaugural BelugaXL, after serving as the test aircraft, has undergone a major refurbishment and is now ready to contribute to the fleet’s heavy lifting. This addition is timely as Airbus gears up for increased production across all its commercial aircraft lines. By 2027, the BelugaXL fleet is expected to reach 9,500 flight hours annually, up from a planned 6,500 flight hours in 2024.

Sustainability is a key focus for Airbus. The BelugaXL can operate on a blend of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF), supporting Airbus’ goal to gradually increase SAF use in its operations. By 2030, Airbus aims for the fleet to operate entirely on SAF, aligning with its broader sustainability roadmap.

The greater capacity of the BelugaXL also means fewer flights are needed, reducing carbon emissions. ATI projects that in 2024, the fleet will transport approximately 5% more payload compared to 2019’s mixed fleet of BelugaXLs and Beluga STs, while emitting 20% fewer carbon emissions.

Aviation

Airbus Enhances A350 Cabin with 10-Abreast Seating

Airbus has announced a new partnership with Jiatai Aircraft Equipment, a Chinese aircraft seating manufacturer, to supply upgraded economy-class seats for the A350 widebody series.

This collaboration, unveiled at the 2024 Airshow China, focuses on developing a newly designed economy seat tailored for the A350‘s New Production Standard (NPS) cabin.

One of the key features of the NPS cabin is the ability to accommodate 17-inch wide economy seats, compared to the previous 16.5-inch wide seats that airlines were limited to in the A350’s earlier configurations.

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This change is made possible by the expanded space in the NPS cabin, which is 35 inches longer and 4 inches wider than the previous version. This extra space is achieved by slightly moving the cockpit wall forward and shifting the rear pressure bulkhead back by one frame.

The wider cabin allows airlines to add up to 30 extra economy seats without compromising comfort. For airlines opting for a 3-4-3 seating layout, the 17-inch wide seats are an excellent choice for a more comfortable passenger experience. However, some airlines, such as Iberia, may choose to retain a 9-abreast layout with wider seats for added comfort.

The NPS cabin also offers enhanced flexibility for airline operators. One major advantage is the ability to easily switch between a 9-abreast and 10-abreast seating configuration without requiring significant downtime for aircraft reconfiguration. Airlines can use the same seat rails, tracks, and IFE interfaces, making the transition smoother and quicker.

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In addition, the design of the floor attachments and air-conditioning systems has been optimized for 10-abreast seating, meaning airlines can upgrade their cabins without needing to make substantial modifications to the aircraft’s structure.

Though it’s still unclear when Jiatai’s economy-class seats will be officially added to the A350’s Buyer Furnished Equipment (BFE) catalogue, the collaboration marks a significant step toward enhancing the A350’s cabin offerings.

With this partnership, Airbus is providing more seating options for airlines, ensuring that they can meet diverse customer needs while improving overall operational efficiency.