The Beluga XL's design takes after the then world's first largest cargo jet, the Airbus Beluga A300-600ST.

The new, larger XL is based on an Airbus A330. Photo of Airbus Industrie Airbus Beluga XL (F-GXLH) taken in Hawarden, United Kingdom on 2020-03-06 by Rolf Jonsen of AirTeamImages.com Since the mid-1990s, Airbus has used an aircraft called the Beluga. The Beluga XL will have its first flight later in July and should enter Airbus service in 2019. Earlier versions of the Airbus Beluga are modified A300s. The new whale also and has a payload lifting capacity over four metric tons greater than the old Beluga.

Beluga XL performed its maiden flight on July 19, 2018, and received certification in November of the following year. This photo is copyright protected and may not be used in any way without proper permission. It's based on the company's A300-600 airliner and its official name is the A300-600ST Beluga. BELUGA XL wide lanyard made of 100% PET recycled polyester, sublimated with Airbus and BELUGAXL logo.

Aviation Photo #5545001 Airbus A330-743L Beluga XL - Airbus [ Medium Large] Tweet. With a safety fastening and cell phone holder. However, the Beluga XL is not the first to reach these new heights. Airbus While Airbus, which has manufacturing sites in France, Germany, Spain and the UK, uses other forms of transportation, air cargo is the “primary method” preferred by the aircraft manufacturer. The 63.1-metre long giant transport aircraft with a payload of 50.5 tons will replace the five current Belugas (officially: A300-600 ST). Due to enter service in 2019, the Beluga XL will replace the current fleet of five Beluga ST aircraft operated by Airbus Transport International by 2025. The five planned Beluga XL air lifters will be used to transport large components of Airbus aircraft from various production facilities across Europe to the final assembly sites located in Toulouse, France, and Hamburg, Germany. The six Beluga XL will be completed by 2023. The whale-themed livery was chosen through a poll of 20,000 Airbus employees.