LONDON- An Airbus BelugaXL transporter will make a rare appearance at London Heathrow Airport (LHR) this month to deliver spare parts for a British Airways (BA) Airbus A350 aircraft grounded since April.
Beluga, known for its distinctive whale-like shape, will transport components needed to repair the damaged plane.
Airbus BelugaXL London Flight
The British Airways Airbus A350 has been stranded at Heathrow since April 6 following a collision with a Virgin Atlantic (VS) Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner.
The incident occurred during towing operations at Terminal 3, resulting in significant damage to both aircraft. Fortunately, no passengers or crew were on board at the time of the accident.
While the Virgin Atlantic plane returned to service on June 21, the British Airways A350 remains grounded due to severe damage to its right-hand horizontal stabilizer. The prolonged repair process necessitates the delivery of specialized parts via the Beluga transporter, PYOK reported.
Airbus utilizes its Beluga fleet for worldwide transportation of aircraft components. The latest generation, known as the BelugaXL, boasts an impressive cargo capacity of up to 51 tonnes in its expansive belly hold.
Based on the Airbus A330 design, these transporters typically shuttle sub-assemblies and components between Airbus’ European manufacturing facilities in France, Germany, Spain, and the UK.
Fleet of Six Airbus BelugaXL
Airbus has broadened the utility of its BelugaST aircraft since 2022, offering cargo services for diverse freight, including helicopters. This expansion demonstrates the versatility of these uniquely designed transporters in meeting various logistics needs across industries.
The aerospace giant now operates a fleet of six BelugaXL aircraft, headquartered in Toulouse. These advanced transporters boast enhanced capacity, capable of carrying the largest A350 fuselage section or two 30-metre long widebody wings simultaneously.
This improvement marks a significant upgrade from the previous generation, which could only accommodate a single wing.
Aviation insider M Zulqarnain B reports on social media platform X that an Airbus Beluga is scheduled to arrive at London Heathrow on September 9.
The aircraft will deliver crucial spare parts to repair the damaged British Airways A350. However, this timeline remains subject to potential last-minute adjustments, reflecting the dynamic nature of aviation logistics.
The anticipated arrival of the Beluga at Heathrow has sparked interest among aviation enthusiasts. Should the date remain unchanged, plane spotters are expected to gather at the airport on September 9 to witness this rare appearance of the distinctive aircraft.
What do you think about this special delivery flight? Are you excited? Let us know in the comments.
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