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

DOT Penalizes Lufthansa $4 Million for Stopping Jewish Passengers From Boarding

The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) has imposed a $4 million penalty on Lufthansa for discriminating against Jewish passengers traveling from New York City to Budapest via Frankfurt in May 2022. The incident marked the largest civil rights fine ever levied by the DOT against an airline.

The case stems from an incident where Lufthansa denied 128 Jewish passengers — most of whom were wearing traditional Orthodox Jewish attire — from boarding their connecting flight in Germany.

China Airlines eyes new aircraft order for 777X and A350-1000

The airline’s actions were based on the alleged misconduct of a few individuals during the first leg of the journey from John F. Kennedy Airport (JFK) to Frankfurt (FRA). However, many of those passengers did not know each other or travel as a group. DOT investigators found that Lufthansa treated them as a single entity, barring them from their connecting flight to Budapest (BUD) for the actions of a few.

Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg emphasized the department’s commitment to protecting passengers’ rights. “No one should face discrimination when they travel, and today’s action sends a clear message to the airline industry that we are prepared to investigate and take action whenever passengers’ civil rights are violated,” he said. Buttigieg added that DOT’s increased enforcement efforts aim to ensure airlines treat all passengers with fairness and dignity.

This aircraft won’t need a runway

The investigation began after DOT received over 40 complaints from Jewish passengers affected by the incident. Despite some passengers failing to follow crew instructions on the first flight, lufthansa business lounge newark did not specifically identify any noncompliant individuals.

Instead, the airline placed a blanket hold on the tickets of over 100 passengers, preventing them from continuing their journey. lufthansa airways acknowledged that this approach could lead to excluding compliant passengers but deemed it impractical to address each case individually.