US EditionLargest aircraft in world makes final flight
After 25 years and 13,300 journeys, the Beluga ST5 retires to Broughton as a STEM education center to inspire future aerospace talent, replacing the retiring ST fleet.
- On Thursday, January 29 the Beluga ST5 completed its last flight, arriving from Bordeaux after a farewell flyby over Chester and landing at Airbus Broughton at 11am to crowds in Flintshire.
- The Beluga ST fleet began service in 1995 to replace the Super Guppy, with Beluga ST5 set to turn 25 on December 12, 2025, after around 13,300 journeys.
- The Beluga ST is among the largest aircraft, built to transport Airbus components with a 6,000 payload, comparable to an adult humpback whale.
- The plane will be repurposed as a STEM support facility at Airbus Broughton, welcoming local schools and community groups with activities aligned to the national curriculum.
- Beluga STs are being phased out in favour of Beluga XLs, and from mid-2027 the Beluga XL fleet will be the sole transporter of components for Airbus.
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Chester StandardRECAP- Follow as the Airbus BelugaST 5 makes its final journey to Broughton
Follow live updates as the iconic Airbus BelugaST 5 makes its final journey to Broughton. The aircraft is set to perform a flypast before landing…
Airbus today (Thursday) said goodbye to the iconic BelugaST No. 5 cargo plane, which was used for years to transport aircraft parts between the company's facilities across Europe. The plane is known for its unique structure, reminiscent of a beluga whale, and is capable of carrying unusually large cargo volumes that are not suitable for regular cargo planes. The iconic plane, the oldest in Airbus' Beluga fleet, made its final flight today, after…
Airbus BelugaST to perform final flight
Airbus’ last active BelugaST (“Super Transporter”) is set to perform its final flight on January 29, 2026, after more than three decades of service. This iconic cargo aircraft is an A300-600 aircraft which has been specially customized to carry oversized cargo, such as wings and other aircraft sub-assemblies, between the different Airbus production plants scattered across Europe. Its bulging shape is the result of having cut off the top of an …
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