The last of Airbus’ distinctive Beluga ST (Super Transporter) aircraft, registration F-GSTC, remains in service as the aerospace giant phases out the original fleet in favor of the larger BelugaXL. The final Beluga ST, nicknamed for its resemblance to the beluga whale, is currently operational, though its future remains uncertain.
The Beluga ST fleet, crucial for transporting oversized aircraft components between Airbus production sites across Europe for over two decades, is being retired as the newer BelugaXL aircraft take over the internal logistics role. The transition began in earnest in 2022, with the BelugaXL fleet becoming the primary means of moving wings and fuselage sections between facilities in Broughton, Wales; Toulouse, France; and Hamburg, Germany. Airbus determined the increased capacity of the BelugaXL – able to carry two wings compared to the Beluga ST’s one – was essential to meet growing production demands and maintain a “just in time” logistics system.
Although the Beluga STs were initially designed for a lifespan of approximately 40,000 flight hours, Airbus explored extending their utility after removing them from internal transport duties. In 2022, the company established Airbus Beluga Transport (AIBT) to offer the aircraft for external cargo transport, capitalizing on their unique ability to carry exceptionally large loads like satellites, aircraft engines, helicopters, and heavy machinery. AIBT received its air operator certificate in November 2023, aiming to fill a gap in the outsized cargo market previously served by Antonov An-124 aircraft, many of which were grounded due to the conflict in Ukraine.
However, the venture proved short-lived. Airbus announced the immediate closure of AIBT in early 2024, citing insufficient demand from external customers for large-scale cargo transport services. This decision effectively ended the Beluga ST’s brief foray into the commercial freight market.
Of the original five Beluga ST aircraft built, four have now been retired. The first, F-GSTA, was decommissioned in Bordeaux in April 2021. F-GSTB followed in December 2025 in Bordeaux, and F-GSTD was retired in Toulouse in September 2025. The most recent retirement, before the remaining operational aircraft, took place on January 29, 2026, at Broughton Airfield in Wales, where the aircraft, F-GSTF, is slated to be repurposed as an interactive STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) classroom.
The fate of the remaining Beluga ST, F-GSTC, is currently unknown. Spain, like with the earlier Super Guppy aircraft, will not be receiving a Beluga ST for preservation. The Super Guppy offered to Spain was ultimately rejected due to a lack of space at the Museo del Aire in Getafe and was subsequently sold to NASA, where it remains in service.
