Aviation

Airbus Launches Cargo Airline With Beluga Fleet

Customers all over the world will be able to use Airbus’ freighter service for outsized cargo transportation.

Based on the A300-600 design, the Beluga ST super transporter aircraft was completed in 1994. It served as the backbone for the inter-site transportation of major airplane parts for Airbus. Following the introduction of a newer and upgraded version of the Beluga XL, the previously employed 5 Beluga STs are now being used for cargo services.

The first of its services was supplied to Japan in December 2021, when Airbus delivered a brand new helicopter. It was stopped for refueling at several sites along the way, including Poland, Russia, and Korea. Notably, the entire aero plane could be stored within the beluga without having to disassemble it first.

First of its service was offered to japan by on December 2021 by delivering a brand new helicopter from Airbus. During the transit it was stopped to refuel at various points like Poland, Russia and Korea. Notably the whole aircraft could be accommodated inside the beluga without any prior disassembly.

It is dedicated for outsized freight customers. Over the years Beluga fleet has occasionally been called upon over the years to transport outsized cargo such as industrial machinery and other space satellites. Because of it’s unrelated to its normal day to day jobs transporting airbus aircraft sections. After seeing the various demands the airbus finally planned to offer the Freight service for the global customers.

The Beluga benefits all possible market applications, since it possesses the world’s largest interior cross-section of any transport aircraft, accommodating outsized cargo of up to 7.1m in width by 6.7m in height.

Short specification of Beluga ST

It was introduced in the year 1995. It can carry up to 48 tons of the load and has an empty weight around 86.5 tons.

It can hold up to 23,860 litters of the fuel and it is powered by GE CF6 turbofan can produce 257 kN thrust.

It has maximum speed of Mach 0.7 and has the range up to 2,779 km and goes up to 35,000 ft. of ceiling reach.

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Aviation

COMAC Unveils Plans for the C929 to Rival Airbus and Boeing

After the success of China’s first C919 aircraft, the country is setting its sights on developing a larger plane. COMAC (Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China) has officially confirmed plans to build a widebody aircraft, marking a significant step in its aircraft lineup.

Traditionally, Airbus and Boeing dominate the widebody aircraft market, with decades of expertise in developing planes and engines capable of carrying heavy payloads. China, which currently relies on imported engines, is now aiming to challenge these giants with its own widebody jet, the C929, designed to compete with the Airbus A350 and Boeing 777.

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The C929 will be China’s first independently developed long-range widebody aircraft. It adheres to international airworthiness standards and boasts independent intellectual property rights. The baseline version is designed to seat 280 passengers and offers a range of 12,000 kilometers, catering to global demand for both regional and international air travel.

Russia, which also needs reliable narrowbody and widebody aircraft, could become a key customer for the C929. Additionally, China plans to target the broader Asian market as it continues to expand its aviation capabilities.

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China’s aviation progress includes the ARJ21 (now called C909), a regional jet with 100 seats for shorter routes, and the C919, a narrowbody jet with 180 seats designed to rival the Boeing 737 MAX and Airbus A320. Both models have found increasing demand in the domestic market.

At China’s largest air show in Zhuhai, COMAC announced that Air China will be the launch customer for the C929 widebody jet, though details about order size and delivery timelines were not disclosed.

Other major deals announced by COMAC include:

Hainan Airlines: Firm orders for 60 C919 and 40 C909 regional jets.
Colorful Guizhou Airlines: 30 C909 jets, with 20 firm orders and 10 provisional agreements.

The C929, renamed from the CR929 after Russia withdrew from the joint development project in 2023, is expected to carry 280–400 passengers with a range of 12,000 kilometers, competing directly with Boeing’s 787 Dreamliner.

According to COMAC’s deputy general manager, Tong Yu, the first fuselage section of the C929 is expected by September 2027, with prototype test flights anticipated soon after.