Stelia Aerospace has delivered the main cargo door for the first BelugaXL, fully equipped with electrical and hydraulic systems. The delivery follows the handover of the first upper fuselage section in early July and completes the upper fuselage/cargo door assembly.

The 3.1t door — the largest of its kind ever built in Europe — measures 10m in length, 9m in width and 8m in height.

The A330-derived BelugaXL will replace the current BelugaST under a programme launched in November 2014 to address the increasing transport needs due to the production ramp-up. Five aircraft will be built.

The Beluga XL features an enlarged fuselage “bubble” section that is six metres longer and one metre wider than on the Beluga ST.  The Beluga XL will be able to carry larger sections of Airbus aircraft, including a full wing-set for the A350 XWB’s latest A350-1000 version. 

Stelia Aerospace is a subsidiary of Airbus formed in 2015 by combining the former Aerolia with the aircraft seating business of Sogerma.