Tuesday, January 21, 2025 In the opening weeks of this year, the colossal freighter “Beluga” has become a familiar sight at Munich Airport. The BelugaXL, modeled after the Airbus A330-200F, takes its name from its striking resemblance to the beluga whale. Primarily, it is used to transport aircraft components between Airbus facilities.
During its current operations at Munich Airport, the aircraft is loading A350 fuselage sections, or “side shells,” produced in Augsburg. These sections are carefully loaded onto the freighter using a specially designed scaffold before being flown to Airbus’s Hamburg-Finkenwerder plant. With its distinctive design, nearly 61-meter wingspan, and 20-meter height, the BelugaXL is a true spectacle for aviation enthusiasts.
Its presence at Munich Airport underscores Bavaria’s pivotal role as a hub for air traffic and the aviation industry. For those eager to catch a glimpse, the BelugaXL is scheduled to visit the airport three more times on January 23, 29, and 31, 2025, landing around midday and departing for Hamburg in the afternoon..
